The Human Gait Institute (“HGI”) was organized April 11, 2008. It is a Colorado non-profit corporation. It has obtained exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. Its principal office is presently located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
When the Human Gait Institute’s founder, Dr. Marny Eulberg, a polio survivor, was faced with having to go into more extensive bracing, she wanted a more effective brace than the industry standard braces that are traditionally made of metal and plastic. After much research, she became the wearer of the Dynamic Bracing Solutions (DBS) orthosis. With her DBS, she experienced the increased functionality it provided and a significant improvement in her life style.
Thinking long-term, she recognized that the principles of the DBS bracing system needed to endure for continued support to its users. This was the original impetus for the establishment of HGI. At its onset, HGI focused in four areas:
Over time, and based on the awareness of the creation of other new bracing technologies and the use of new materials, as well as recognizing that one type of brace does not fit all, the Board of HGI recognized that what they have learned about wearing a DBS brace can be applied to in varying degrees of use to all brace wearers. Therefore, they changed their mission and their focus to addressing the issues that anyone who is considering getting a brace for the first time or who is getting a new brace that is different from their current brace could face.
Because of their own experiences and their observations of the experiences of other brace wearers, HGI members have learned that education and support for brace wearers is minimal at best. This is not because there are not caring, aware orthotists in the profession, but primarily because of the requirements of the medical insurance system and, in some practices, the requirement to meet product quotas to ensure that the practice is profitable. We hope that what we provide on this web site can, in our limited way, help to fill that void and provide support for those who need bracing to improve and/or maintain their quality of life.
HGI exists through volunteers’ time, talents, and out of pocket expense payments, and through some small training and research grants and gifts. It is not affiliated with and operates independent of Dynamic Bracing Solutions. All of the contents on this web site are the product of our efforts and made available to the viewer free of charge. It is copywritten, and should not be used for profit by any entity.
Please help us by giving to the support of the continuation of this web site. Any donations will be greatly appreciated and such donations are tax deductible.
The purpose of HGI is set forth in its Mission Statement: The mission of the Human Gait Institute is to assist people in reaping the benefits of innovative lower extremity orthotic technologies.
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Human Gait InstituteOur organization is small. Our expenses are minimal. We have no personnel expenses as our work is the result of volunteers’ time and talents. Our greatest cost is the continued maintenance of our web site. For those of you who have benefitted from our work and would like to support the continuation of our web site, you can give to us by sending a check to:
Human Gait InstituteHGI is also listed on Amazon Smiles. So when you purchase from Amazon and use the web site smile.amazon.com you can designate us as a recipient.
Any donations will be greatly appreciated and such donations are tax deductible. Thank you!
Jim Dean, a retired attorney, did not wear a leg brace until he was in his 60s. Since then he has tried three different types of braces including a conventional brace and two custom braces. His results have varied, but the custom braces have provided more assistance than the conventional brace.
Karla Stromberger, a retired pediatric physical therapist, went into bracing as a mature adult. She has braces on both legs, one a short leg brace (AFO) and one a long leg brace (KAFO). Her “best braces” have allowed her to be physically active, hiking, walking on the beach, and playing bocce ball.
Margaret Hinman, a retired educator, has been in and out of bracing since she was 11 years old. After wearing a long-leg brace (KAFO) for 5 years, she quit bracing for over twenty years, and only went back to bracing when she hurt so bad she could not walk. Her current “best brace” is over 10 years old and acquired after trying almost every conventional and custom brace she could find that did not work.
Dr. Marny Eulberg, M.D. of the Mountain and Plains Post-Polio Clinic, wore a leg brace from ages 4 to 13 years old and had to go back into bracing at age 39. She initiated her own search when she learned that to best meet her needs, she would have to either go into a long-leg (KAFO) conventional brace or find a custom alternative that would meet her needs. After she initiated her search and found her “best brace,” she founded HGI and brought four others along to share their journeys.
Mike Mrozowicz has never walked without a leg brace. He has always worn a custom brace, including trying an electronic exoskeleton which did not meet his needs. He has been using his current “best brace” for over 7 years.
Steve Medberry D.P.T., a practicing physical therapist, wears two short leg braces (AFO’s) as a result of an autoimmune disorder that he contracted in his late teens. He is still looking for his “best braces.”