Frost & Sullivan Cites Bledsoe for Magnesium Orthopedic Braces

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Mar. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on its recent analysis of the orthopedic braces and supports market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Bledsoe Brace Systems (Bledsoe) with the 2010 North America Frost & Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation for its magnesium products featuring durable, lightweight braces with sleek, low profile designs, launched in January 2009.  Introduction of these braces marks a groundbreaking development in the braces and supports markets.

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Magnesium offers many advantages, including ultra-lightweight, improved strength and great force resistance. Bledsoe engineers have harnessed this unique combination of properties in the metal to make a completely new line of braces.

"Bledsoe has been able to compete with the major companies in the braces and supports market due to its deep understanding the needs of the market and providing solutions that are better than the giants in the space," says Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst Aarti Shetty. "The weight of the product goes a long way in determining its comfort for patients, especially for long-term use, and the new Bledsoe knee braces are up to 50 percent lighter than their predecessors and offer perfect support to the knee while being very durable."

Further, the custom, anatomical shape provides even more comfortable wearing behavior. When patients are recovering from knee injury, surgery or any other kind of knee ailment, resuming normal activities is the most important need. In the case of younger patients, this feature becomes the single most important factor when determining their courses of treatment. They want to continue enjoying their life and continue normal activities.

"Bledsoe's use of magnesium to make very light-weight braces helps fulfill that need for patients that live a very active and dynamic life," notes Shetty. "This is also true for the baby boomer population that enjoys an active lifestyle and requires braces that match that level of high activity."

Bledsoe has displayed commendable sensitivity to the requirements of its patients and physicians and the market as a whole, delivering solutions of high quality at regular intervals. Its braces provide maximum stability for their users, which is one of the most important features one looks for when selecting a brace. These braces are available in a variety of colors, providing added customer value. The fact that it is light-weight makes the braces ideal for performance sports and other activities. Magnesium is strong enough to withstand impact sports. It is also powerful enough to support ligament injuries and severe osteoarthritis; a very desirable feature that is not widely available. It encourages compliance while protecting the wearer.

The seven knee brace models in the revolutionary magnesium available in the market are Bledsoe OA Air, Bledsoe AlignAir, Bledsoe Z12, Bledsoe Z12 OA, Bledsoe Axiom OTS, Bledsoe Axiom-D, Bledsoe Axiom OA, and Bledsoe Patello-Femoral 20.50. Bledsoe offers magnesium in a wide variety of braces to fit every patient's needs, including osteoarthritis, ligament injuries or strains and patella femoral problems.

With the innovative introduction of magnesium, Bledsoe continues to be at the forefront of technology in the orthopedic bracing industry and to serve the needs of its end users from all aspects. The company has earned the respect of its competitors and is looked upon by the market as a house of innovative and reliable bracing products. In recognition of these achievements, Bledsoe is given the 2010 Frost & Sullivan Technology Innovation Award in the U.S. braces and supports market.

Each year, Frost & Sullivan presents this award to the company that has demonstrated uniqueness in developing a technology, which significantly impacts both the functionality and the customer value of the new products and applications. The award lauds the relevance of the innovation to the industry.

Frost & Sullivan's Best Practices Awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research in order to identify best practices in the industry.

About Bledsoe

Founded in 1982 and based in Grand Prairie, Texas, Bledsoe Brace Systems (www.BledsoeBrace.com), is a privately held manufacturer of orthopedic products. Long known for engineering excellence, the company was the first to develop the modern post-op knee brace and continues to lead the industry in its innovations and manufacturing. Along with the functional knee bracing products, Bledsoe produces foot and ankle braces, shoulder and arm braces, soft goods, and cold therapy products.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership, please visit http://www.awards.frost.com.

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan