Device repairs wrists?
Inventor credited with easing pain, saving $ millions

By Tricia Pemberton

Published: October 17, 2007

EDMOND — At first glance, Roger Williams' invention looks so simple — just some black Velcro straps covering a small spring that fits over the hand and wrist.

The carpal glove has helped patients regain mobility in their hands, however, and has saved industry thousands of dollars in workers' compensation claims, said Williams, an Edmond-based occupational therapist.

"This glove does not limit any function of the hand or arm, it just inhibits something you don't even know you have — joint transmission forces.”

To illustrate what he's talking about, Williams shows patients a 3-dimensional drawing of the carpal tunnel in the hand — in particular, a small bone near the outer wrist. If he can provide resistance to the deforming force of that bone, he can restore normal wrist alignment, increase grip strength and eliminate symptoms of tingling, numbness and pain, he said.

He also claims his patients can heal without surgery or hospitalization if they will just wear his $175 glove.

His patients and several large employers say he's right.

Kayla Hanneman of Norman said she's spent 20 years dealing with occupational health issues as the environmental health and safety manager for Oklahoma County.

When she came to see Williams for the first time two months ago, she had problems in her wrist, elbow, neck and shoulder. Williams said the 56-year-old was bent over like a much older woman. With the combination of treatment and the carpal glove, Hanneman said she now feels almost 100 percent better. She was straight-shouldered, her skin glowed and she had a big smile on her face as she recently told her story.

"I had so much fire in my hands, I could feel it like a fever when I would hold my hands up to my face,” Hanneman said. "With the glove, I felt relief in about three days. Blood is flowing through my body now. I feel better. I sleep better. I breathe better.”

J. Jarrell, safety coordinator for Lopez Foods Inc., an Oklahoma City-based beef and pork manufacturer, said the company teamed with Williams to educate employees on how to prevent work-related injuries.

"Lopez Foods Inc. has not only realized cost savings by utilizing Roger's systematic approach, but seeing and hearing the results from our associates that they feel better, stronger and happier is the best benefit of all,” Jarrell said.

Williams also has worked with companies such as Delta Faucet Co. and Xerox to reduce repetitive motion injuries. For the 2,300-employee Delta Faucet Co., Williams said he's saved the company about $1.8 million in workers compensation claims

Williams said his glove was 15 years in the making.

He worked with Dave McBride from Tinker Air Force Base to build the first crude testing fixture, then with Carl Abrahamson to build a $500,000 machine to measure transmission forces and determine the amount of tension needed.

Williams said he's seen about a 95 percent to 98 percent success rate in industry for companies that have sent employees to be fitted with the gloves.

Comments