With permission: From Sara Meeks post: "I travel and teach as fast as I physically can, but am constantly looking for more outlets for safe information to reach the public (and other professionals too) Ideas on that?"
A retreat would be nice where all interested could meet together and learn from Sara especially learn safe exercises, how to get down and up from the floor, etc.
Am I dreaming?
Peggy
Some ideas for you are Golds Gym or large Gym facillities, Wellness (whole body) Facillities, Chiropractors, Churches were they have activity nights for women or men and work places that stresses physcial activity and wellness.
Good luck! I wish you were here that I may hear you.
Hi Courage, sorry if I wasn't clear. I'd like to have community members post ideas on how to have Sara Meeks (and other health professionals) able to work with us for safe movement. Thanks for responding. Sandi
Peggy, I'm seeing Sara on a pair of rollerblades going from one city to the other working with each one of us!
But seriously, I can see the possibility, but for a retreat or a seminar, it would take a sponsor that would cover travel, hotel, space; not to mention payment for the professional. We're very fortunate that Sara has given so much information freely, as she does paid consults. But if not in person, what other options are there? Possibly, a series of dvds with people of all ages and physical ability: example ... basic safe movements which may be more specific to people that have limited physical ability. I have yet to find an osteoporosis video that shows safe moves specific to hip and spine with someone that in my opinion, has osteoporosis, but is energetic and is physically active like Sally Field. I know there is much discussion about the fact that with her name she promotes a medication, but I feel aside from promoting Boniva, she represents me and how I live with bone loss. So I'd like to have dvd's that show all ages; men and women with different stages represented with safe movement. I have other ideas, but would like to have other community members opinions. Meanwhile, I'll go check on those rollerblades. (smile). Sandi
Well, I'm in a group of ladies that had revision surgery for flatback and we had a retreat last year. We are having another retreat next year. The cost per night covers our room and meals, plus we have a conference room, living room area, pool, access to the beach, etc. We hope to have a local yoga instructor come to show us exercises we can do with limited back flexibility which will be at an extra cost for those that want to participate. The cost of the place we are going to is going to be about $85 a night if you have 2 people to a room. Maybe we are less expensive on the east coast, plus this retreat center is owned by a church.
The cost for having Sara come could be figured into the nightly rate. I realize some couldn't attend because of the cost of transportation and some would be unable to travel. Maybe the main points of the retreat could be recorded on DVD for those unable to attend in person. I think there would be several people that would be willing to travel for the experience of being with others with the same diagnosis and for the training.
Peggy
Thank you for clearifing. You have some good ideas from Sandi and Peggy. Good luck.
Aha! That is a good idea ... and I don't think there are any Yoga for osteoporosis dvds. My frustration is for the people that live in rural areas and don't have access to anyone that has osteoporosis safe movement knowledge. Without a doctor's referral, many people can't have access to working with a physical therapist even if one is available in the area. Of course, any health professionals that focus on osteoporosis that have seminars, classes specific to osteoporosis may consider a series of taped dvds which could be offered to community members at a reduced rate .... which brings up another problem Peggy for many people .... the cost of books, dvd's, seminars; etc. In your other group, because of limited back flexibility, I imagine that an instructor could work with all of you with basically the same safe moves, but that wouldn't work if you & I were in the same seminar as our needs would be different as I don't have any limited flexibility. That is why I think different dvd's with different levels of physical ability may work. I'm not sure if this site has the capability for animated movement ... another option to consider. My mind is flipping ideas at a fast pace, so I'll slow down and post as I think through additional ideas and hope that we hear from other community members.
Yes, I live in a rural area. I haven't been to PT regarding my osteoporosis, but when I had my neck PT, my therapist was surprised to know that I knew who Sara Meeks was. I was surprised to know that he had been to a seminar! We had an interesting discussion that day.
Maybe we could get public libraries to purchase the DVDs, books, etc. I know they have limited funds but if their users requested the books and DVDs maybe the library would purchase them or borrow them from a larger library. Maybe some doctors would be willing to purchase them for their local library. Maybe the pharmaceutical companies would help us get DVDs and books to the libraries. I was on a fibromyalgia support website last night that is sponsored by Pfizer so the pharmaceutical companies are a possibility.
Maybe those that could afford the DVDs and books would be willing to loan them, via mail, to others for awhile. Once you learn the exercise routine it could be passed on to the next person on the list.
Peggy
Peggy, I like brainstorming ideas because some ideas get tossed while other ideas may actually pan out. I always suggest checking with the library before purchasing a book/video. Some of the books/videos on my list are available at the library on request, but not all. I wouldn't count on the pharmaceutical companies, although authors and/or publishers may choose to donate, but to all the libraries? I doubt. I'm not sure it was a matter of whether I could afford the videos/books as much as I slowly built up the collection through the years. But aside from that, unless I want a personal evaluation, I will not lend out any of videos or books. Why? Because I did lend out two videos (Sara Meeks videos and Mirabai Holland Skeleton Fitness) and one book Margie Bessinger's Osteoprosis Guide to Exercise to offline people with osteoporosis and with repeated requests have not received back. In time, I will have to repurchase, so I make it a rule not to be so generous with my help in that regard. But also, please keep in mind that people tend to follow the instructor. A move that may be safer for me may not be safe for another person with osteoporosis. I would have thought Miriam Nelson's video would be a safe movement exercise program, but there are twists and crunches included which we know counter safe osteoporosis movement. Since I am not a physical therapist or have any professional training, I wouldn't want to be responsible for sharing videos in the event a person got hurt by following the video.
I am checking into animated and podcast ability on the community which would open other options. But please keep the suggestions coming. Sandi
Hi Sandi: Great Ideas... Sara already has an unbelievably busy schedule, that we need to come up with ideas that wouldn't make the schedule worse and could be implemented easily.
The video idea, on this site, would be good and it is supported-look at link below.
The thing I haven't been able to figure out is how would you personalize a DVD when you have so many differing physical limitations. Maybe some one has some other ideas how you could pull this off.
I'll keep thinking-glad you expanded this question.
Doesn't Suza have a safe yoga for osteo on DVD? I also thought Sara had something on this as well in DVD etc, or maybe it's on some other exercise topic.
http://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/journal/new- feature-video/
Windblown, of course, I should have remembered the video ability; although my thought at the time was audio, and not video, but video is certainly a plus. The safe movements for daily activity would benefit anyone. The exercises may be limited to people that have physical ability. Wouldn't it be great to have video examples on the community. I checked the appendix in Suza's book and don't find any yoga for osteoporosis dvd/video. Suza does have a section regarding osteoporosis, but her Yoga book is not specific to osteoporosis. I may be wrong, but I don't think Sara has a specific yoga dvd/video for osteoporosis. You're absolutely correct about the busy schedules of many of the health professionals that have joined the community. We certainly don't want to take advantage. I'm often surprised at how much time Sara has given the community. But if we have some options open from suggestions offered, the time we are given from health professionals may be utilized in another manner. I'm not sure about liability with video examples, but a disclaimer with the information may solve that problem. I can come up with the ideas, but not always how to implement them! In answer to your question, I wasn't thinking of a personalized dvd. But a dvd for people that need to sit; of all ages; men and women. Another dvd that might include bridges, lunges, squats for those of us that have the physical ability; hip and spine extensions with men, women of all ages. Videos have disclaimers about use and checking with doctors; etc., so I don't imagine that would be a problem. Oh no Windblown, I think I can speak also for Peggy when I say neither of us are trying to pull this off. This is a community effort of suggestions and ideas.
Before we reinvent the wheel:
Let me describe "Choices" ---a "unique educational program for people with osteoporosis that helps participants improve their bone health through self-management".
This was developed a few years back with a Proctor and Gamble and Aventis grant. I bought it and offered the program twice. It was very well received by local community groups. But I could not afford to offer it at what the market could afford. It was developed at Duke which has an excellent reputation for osteoporosis research and teaching. Self-management is the key in osteoporosis, just as it is in diabetes. (We all recognize, I hope, that just taking meds is not managing osteoporosis).
Anyhow, this program was shelved, so to,speak, by P&G as not fulfilling its expectations. (Sounds like a new hire decided not to bother with it anymore).
Now --- this program is available free! Granted, some of you might consider something "a few years old" might be dated. NO! We PTs working with osteoporosis appreciate all the advances in research, technology, pharmaceuticals, public health, etc, BUT the answers you all seem to be looking for are in the areas of safe body movement (called body mechanics), posture training, balance improvement, effective and safe exercise, and tips for conserving energies for the activities we want to carry out. This knowledge has been around a long time by physical therapist pioneers. Its safety and effectiveness has been borne out by research over and over. "Choices for Better Bone Health"empowers participants to take responsibility for their health with evidence-based facts and syllabus.
Let me do some more "catch-up" on how to obtain this program.
Lucy Buckley PT
aka Mother Goose
Back again!
I googled Choices for Better Bone health and came up with lots of hits. BINGO! -- one I should have remembered -- our own Osteoporosis Special Interest Group at the Section on Geriatrics, American Physical Therapy Association.
www.geriatricspt.org/members/sig-osteo.cfm
The whole program is there. Free. All you need to do is load up your printer with paper.
Sorry I did not think of it the firstbtime -- the humidity of this summer has given me moldy brain.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
Lucy, I checked the the entire link you provided. The pages I clicked said the pages could not be found. Please help? Thanks. Sandi
Hi Sandi and all: I didn't mean just you and Peggy were working on this, I guess I choose the wrong word. I should have said we instead of you.
LUCY: Thanks for the program, but I can't open the links either. I was hoping that something like this existed that anyone could access, since this is not a new topic... I hope we can get to the links eventually, maybe you can throw some weight around? ;o)
I am puzzled -- since I had spotted the site amongst the googled items AND it appeared to have such ready access to the syllabus of "Choices". I was re-remembering that this particular location would be available to APTA members only. I'll check again and see how far I can go without putting in my personal APTA info.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
I was unable to download anything even when I signed in as a member. Am contacting our SIG president.
Lucy Buckleyn PT aka Mother Goose
Yes, there is a problem -- Good thing we discovered it. The webmaster has been notified and the problem will be remedied by the end of next week.
In the meantime, googling the subject -- "Choices, for Better Bone Health"can give you a handle on why and how the program was developed and a better understanding of the complications of dealing with such a huge public health problem as osteoporosis. Much has been accomplished over the years -- especially in research, treatment, technology, and pharamceuticals. But -- until such time as an individual has it "hit home"that he/she has actual bone loss, the information just does not sink in. Then they want to know everthing at once and now! Just as we discover in school and college, becoming educated is not done in a day or a week or even a year. Or even a lifetime! An education allows us to progress in our learning -- to realize how much we really do not know -- what to be looking for -- to recognize hype -- to be skeptical -- how to adapt what we learn to ourselves. "Choices" gives us tools to better self-manage our bone health. The original format was a series of 5 sessions to be held weekly or over a month's time. Adaptations have been made to fit the schedules of those involved.
Driving the creation of this program was the results of research that showed women -- and men, too -- had a great lack of correct information about bone loss. To begin with, despite their knowledge of some of the risk factors --- and already declaring such risk factors -- they rarely considered it possible that they might actually have bone loss themselves. The physicians in the studies almost always felt they were able to address their patients' bone loss needs, BUT, were seldom pro-active in case-finding bone loss amongst their patients. Furthermore, oftentimes, they would respond somewhat reluctantly to their patients questions when the patients DID ask them. Now -- to be fair -- these studies were done a few years back,and I trust attitudes have improved. FRAX should be of great help in determining when and how best to handle bone loss. The more we learn, the more we need to learn -- there is no end point.
I'll let you know when the Osteoporosis Special Interest Group (OSIG) is able to "deliver the goods".
They tell me the end of next week; we'll see.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
Thanks Lucy. I'll look forward to reading the information. I think what Peggy & I are attempting is having in person attention for bone loss through a seminar or convention. But all information is helpful. Sandi
Sandy:
I know that is the direction you were heading in -- an on-site type of thing. BUT --- that is a tremendous undertaking and not as accessible for as many as this site.
You spoke awhile back about compiling a file of information -- posture, safe body movement, etc that is in one place -- here -- for members and surfers to access. They do have the considerable resources of NOF's site, but some seem to not take advantage of that storehouse. Two old saws come to mind:
1. do not reinvent the wheel, and
2. do not burn down the house to roast the pig.
Here is a not-so-old acronym: KISS
(keep it simple, stupid).
I am NOT calling you stupid, Sandy! It is just good management advice.
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
Add to the discussion