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Special Treatment : Physical therapy students make fitness fun
Making fitness testing fun was the name of the game and it was a win-win situation for Missouri Special Olympians and School of Health Professions (SHP) physical therapy students. The students, with the help of MU physical therapy (PT) alumni and faculty members, spent a summer Saturday to offer free health and fitness assessments.
Physical Therapy student JaiLynn Fransisco, class of 2010, checks flexibility and reach for a Special Olympics athlete. Photos by Jeff Krug.
Clinical Instructor Jeff Krug organized the effort on behalf of the Missouri Physical Therapy Association, the seventh year SHP has been involved with the program. “This is a great opportunity for both the athletes and the students of the physical therapy (PT) program to benefit,” Krug says. “The athletes are getting beneficial advice on how to become better athletes, combining what they learn to their training programs, while the students can practice their skills that they have been learning in class.”
PT student John Sauer and physical therapist Bret Derrick, BS-PT '82, check flexibility for Special Olympic athletes.
Throughout the day, the athletes were evaluated on arm and leg flexibility, leg and abdominal strength with timed sit-to-stands and sit-ups, and balance with timed one-legged stance, forward reach in standing assessments. “We provided education and recommendations for simple exercises to address areas of concern,” Krug says. “With areas of great concern, we recommended they see their physician and ask for referral to PT or OT services.”
A total of 52 athletes were screened. “Our goal is to combine fitness with fun,” says Christi Imgarten, PT class of 2009. “We want to stress the importance of exercise, but also give the athletes a chance to enjoy themselves.”
Eight Mizzou PT students, along with many practicing PTs, helped with the assessments. Imgarten enjoyed the experience greatly. “I volunteer every year because I love working with the Special Olympic athletes,” Imgarten says. “They are always so happy to be there, and that in turn lifts my spirits. It really is a win- win experience.”
Other MU PT students assisting were Shannon O’Toole, class of 2009; JaiLynn Fransisco and Stacie Huffmon, class of 2010; Robin Pestien, John Sauer, Victoria Sommerer and Aaron Witte, class of 2011. Physical therapists assisting were Bret Derrick, Jeff Bridges, Carmen Abbott, Lynn Kalkbrenner, Angie Connell and Krug. Derrick, Bridges and Abbott are SHP PT alumni.
-- Caitlin Dawdy
Page last updated on: August 25, 2009
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