Tools

From Injury to Invention

Stefanie Tiso

Story Created: Jul 21, 2008 at 7:38 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 21, 2008 at 7:38 PM CDT

One motorcycle racer has used his numerous injuries to invent a shoulder rehab and stretching device.

“Guys will come up and they'll try it and just be amazed at it and they'll just shake their head and they'll say why didn't I think of that. I mean the device looks so simple,” said Vice President of Joint Mechanix, Chris Melton.

The simple device is something Scott Kay came up with after breaking his shoulder in a motorcycle accident.

“My therapist said there wasn't anything I could do on my own. And I could only go three times a week. So I got home, and had to come up with something there in the shop,” said Kay.

What he came up with was the Rotater, a device he wanted to mimic the stretch his shoulder got in physical therapy.

“And I took it down there and asked them and they said man this is a great idea. And I said well am I hurting myself with it? And the said no, so the next thing I know we were talking to a patent attorney and got a mold made for it and went into production about a year ago,” said Kay.

About 3,000 made so far, Melton said they've sold more than 1700 of the Rotaters around the world. And as they go, they're finding the simple device has the potential to help all different groups of people, including breast cancer patients.

“And when they have the lymph nodes taken out from under their armpits sometimes they favor that arm, don't use it. And then the other thing is if they have a lumpectomy or mastectomy they end up with scar tissue up there,” explained Kay.

Something that hit home for the duo.

“His sister had just gone through breast cancer treatments and my aunt was in breast cancer treatments. So it was very important once we found out that we could help breast cancer patients that we did,” explained Melton.

There are a couple of clinics in Columbus that have tried the Rotater out. Both said they use the device to treat patients on a case by case basis. Next on Kay and Melton's agenda is coming up with a device that will stretch the legs.