Signal Senior Staff Writer
msathe@the-signal.com
Posted: Nov. 19, 2009 9:59 p.m.
When Dennis Recchia saw his elderly mother struggling to remove the compression hose prescribed as a result of her medical problems his creative mind sprang to action.
A CG artist with Dreamworks, Recchia retired to his garage with an idea.
"I heard all this sawing and sanding and noise coming from the garage," said Janet Recchia, Dennis' wife.
The Valencia resident emerged with Sock-eez, a compression hose doffer.
Since its first prototype, Sock-eez has consisted of a smooth piece of molded plastic sporting a handle and a small lip.
It is that curled lip that grabs the tight compression hose and gently pulls it down the leg and off the foot. The simple ergonomic device uses leverage, instead of strength, to assist in removing the compression hose.
"I knew I had to create something that would be easy for my mother to use and to manage independently," Recchia said. "I knew how frustrated she was trying to get those stockings off."
Realizing that many individuals could benefit from Sock-eez, the Recchias founded their company to produce the product and proudly insist that all production for Sock-eez occur in the United States.
"That's very important to us, that this remain a product manufactured in the United States," Recchia said.
The market for Sock-eez is wide, as medical compression hoses are an important treatment option for patients to relieve minor or more serious leg pain related to swelling, venous insufficiency, deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins or other conditions. Patients with lymphedema, edema, diabetes and other conditions, as well as post-operative patents are often required to wear compression hose.
For some patients compression stockings can be a matter of life or death. However, putting the stockings on - and taking them off - have vexed users for years.
Though many devices are available to assist putting the socks on, including the first product invented in Sweden 50 years ago, nothing easy to use was available to patients until Sock-eez.
When the Recchias took their product to the American Occupational Therapy Association trade show in Texas, Janet Recchia spent hours demonstrating to an eager crowd how to use Sock-eez.
"It takes a little bit of training to use. The most important thing is to remember to keep your heel down and toe pointed up for a smooth transition for the Sock-eez to move down the leg," Janet Recchia said.
Since the product debuted the Recchias have received many glowing testimonials about their innovative device.
"I treat many patients prescribed to wear compression stockings," said Diana Jane Riggs, OTR, with 31 years experience. "Their inability to use them independently is a constant concern. If the patient doesn't have a caregiver the stockings are not used, leading to other medical problems."
According Riggs, who has worked the last 11 years in home health care, Sock-eez has been an important addition to the lives of many of her patients.
"Sock-eez eliminates all problems of removal because of its unique design. Its easy to use and teach," she said. "I use Sock-eez with a variety of diagnosis from hip replacement, lymphedema to arthritic patients with much success."
The 20" Sock-eez has a grip and a wrist lanyard to prevent accidental dropping as well as hanging for storage.
Sock-eez was nominated by Therapy Times Magazine as "The Most Valuable Product" of the year after being on the market for six months.
Sock-eez is available from medical device catalogs and distributors and retails for $29.95-$39.99.
One of the benefits of Sock-eez's design is that the hand always stays in a neutral position, which is with the palm facing inward. This action maximizes the full strength of the arm.
To use Sock-eez successfully patients must begin in a seated position. The Sock-eez product is then inserted under the top band of the sock.
With the toes pointing upward the Sock-eez product is slid smoothly down the side of the leg and around toward the back of the heel.
The "hook" on the Sock-eez gently forces and gathers the sock as the patient pushes down toward the heel.
Once at the heel the patient can point toes down as the Sock-eez pushes the sock off the foot. The sock remains gathered at the end of the Sock-eez.
"Sock-eez was created to be ergonomic and easy to use by anyone," said Janet Recchia. "The elderly, disabled, post-operative, injured, chronic back problems, Peripheral Artery Disease patients and people who are too fatigued to bend and remove their socks, will benefit greatly from the use of Sock-eez."
For a list of distributors visit www.sock-eez.com.
Email Article
Print Article
Sign Up for Our Qwik-e Newsletter
