The Mechatronics and Robotics Research Laboratory at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is seeking people with below-knee amputation to test a new prototype prosthetic ankle.
Eligible candidates are men and women between 18 and 69 years old who use a foot or ankle prosthesis. They should be between 5 feet and 6-feet, 4-inches tall and weigh between 90 and 220 pounds.
Participants will spend a total of about two hours in the Biomechanics Lab on the UMass Amherst campus. They will be paid $25 per session.
More information is available from Andrew LaPre at alapree@umass.edu or 577-2294.
Skin cancer, the most common type of cancer in the United States, occurs most frequently on the face. For many, concerns about appearance compound the difficult emotions that any cancer diagnosis brings.
Plastic surgeon Helen Perakis will offer answers and insights around these concerns in a free lecture March 30 at 6 p.m, in the Dakin Conference Room at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.
Attendees will learn about risks, types, diagnosis and treatments, including cutting-edge removal and reconstruction techniques.
Perakis is a surgeon with Cooley Dickinson Medical Group Plastic Surgery in Florence.
Registration is required; space is limited. For more information or to register, visit cooley-dickinson.org/classes or call 888-554-4CDH (4234).
March is National Nutrition Month and the American Heart Association is working to help families live heart-healthy lives by setting healthier diet goals.
It offers the following tips:
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Make it fun for kids to try new fruits and vegetables. Let them pick one out at the grocery store each week, and help figure out how to prepare it in a healthy way.
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Choose whole-grain foods, such as whole-wheat bread, rye bread, brown rice, popcorn, oatmeal and whole-grain cereal.
n Aim to cook at home more often than eating out. Home cooking allows more control over ingredients and portion sizes.
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Ninety percent of kids eat too much sodium. Use fresh herbs can wake up any recipe.
n Watch out for added sugars. They add extra calories but no helpful nutrients. Sugar-sweetened beverages and soft drinks are the number one source of added sugars for most of us. Try sparkling water, unsweetened tea or sugar-free beverages instead of sugar-sweetened soda or tea. Add lemon, lime or berries to beverages for extra flavor.
n Schedule time each week to plan healthy meals. Keep your recipes, grocery list and coupons in the same place to make planning and budgeting easier. This will keep you from calling for take-out which can be high in calories and are high in sodium.
n Enjoy fruit for dessert most days and limit traditional desserts to special occasions. Try a smoothie, a mixed berry and yogurt parfait, or a baked spiced apple or pear.
n Get your kids in the kitchen! They’ll be more excited about eating healthy foods when they’ve been involved. Give them age-appropriate tasks and keep a step-stool handy.
n Chicken, fish and beans are good choices for protein. Remove skin and visible fat from poultry. If you do eat red meat, limit it to once in a while, keep portion size small and choose the leanest cuts.
n Make a game of reading food labels. The whole family will learn to be more conscious of what they eat.
To learn more about blood donation opportunities or to schedule an appointment download the Red Cross donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) Walk-ins are welcome.
Wednesday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., University of Massachusetts Campus Center, 1 Campus Way, Amherst
Thursday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Holy Family Parish, 29 Sugarloaf Street, South Deerfield
March 28, 1:30 to 7 p.m., UMass North Apartments, Eastman Lane.