A Traverse City family physician's invention will hopefully be bringing relief to U.S. soldiers who are suffering from shoulder and other musculoskeletal injuries caused by the heavy loads they carry.
The relief is coming in the form of a rehab device known as the
Rotato Reliever. The device is designed to help bring relief through treatment that involves four minutes a day of exercise with progressively weighted balls and wearing a comfortable brace at night, on the side where the shoulder pain occurs.
Studies show that soldiers in Afghanistan headed out on extended foot patrols carried an average load of 87 to 127 pounds. When they came under attack and dropped their rucksacks, most of the fighting loads still exceeded 60 pounds.
"Many Army, Navy and Marine military personnel are returning home from combat in severe pain from shoulder injuries caused by carrying too much weight over long periods of time," says Dr. Michael Carroll, who developed the Rotato Reliever. "I already have a patient serving in Afghanistan who was suffering from shoulder pain who experienced pain-free duty after using Rotato Reliever for 40 days. After reading about the great extent of shoulder injuries by combat troops I have decided to make my product available to soldiers at a significant discount so even more can get immediate pain relief."
Carroll's patient who is serving in Afghanistan, Benjamin Tousley of Scottsdale, Arizona, had suffered from shoulder pain for years. After being deployed to help set up a criminal justice system in Afghanistan, pain in his left shoulder flared up and Tousley acquired Carroll's device.
"I followed the simple, easy to use device for 40 days and it was a miracle," says Tousley. "No pain, I am sleeping through the night, and there is no hint that anything was ever wrong with my shoulder."
Active military and veterans can go to the Rotato Reliever website to purchase the device. Enter the promo code "Military" to receive a $20 discount through March 31.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Dr. Michael Carroll, Rotato Reliever
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