Making an Impact through Information  

Consumer tools developed for members to share with their patients are an effective way to promote the benefits of physical activity. Providing members with downloadable and customizable consumer handouts on topics related to physical activity is an efficient, cost-effective way to help members get the word out in their communities. Handouts that we have developed include topics like physical activity tips for families, foot health for runners, physical therapy and diabetes, and how to avoid a variety of sports-related injuries.

Social Media

Because many people rely on the Internet for their health information and millions are on Facebook and Twitter, it can be a good idea to use social media as part of your outreach. Social media can take a variety of forms such as videos, tweets, and Facebook posts. We have developed a library of YouTube videos related to physical activity-related topics, such as ACL Injury Prevention; Activities for Kids of All Abilities; Bike Fit; Exercise Techniques (nine series); Exercise for People with Disabilities; Fitness as You Age; Good Health Tips for Runners: Maintaining Physical Activity Across the Lifespan; and Running Tips and Walking Tips. These and our other social media properties are housed on our consumer website, www.moveforwardpt.com.

Video: "Activities for Kids of All Abilities" (Click to play)

Video: "Strength Training Tips from a Physical Therapist" (Click to play)

Tweeting several times a day on topics relevant to consumers can help you develop a following on a Twitter. Hosting tweet chats where members engage with followers on particular topics can also be an effective way to reach consumers. Our tweet chat topics have included toys for children with disabilities, obesity prevention and management, and foot health for runners. It is also possible to videotape live discussions and stream them via the Internet. This year we hosted our first "livestream" event, "Fit for Life," featuring baby boomer physical therapists discussing how they incorporate physical activity into their lives and the lives of their families.

News releases continue to be an effective way to reach the media. Releases we have issued on the importance of physical activity include "New Dietary Guidelines Highlight Importance of Physical Activity" and "Physical Therapists Help You Get Fit - Safely - in 2011."

Making an Impact through Awareness

An organization's national awareness week or month can be used to deliver a targeted, cohesive message in a way that may not otherwise be possible. Tools may be developed that encourage interaction between members and their patients, or clients and traditional PR strategies may be supplemented by social media during this coordinated effort. In 2010, National Physical Therapy Month was dedicated to the importance of physical activity in preventing obesity, and its consequences. We supported our efforts with social media and developed a downloadable board game for members to use with their patients.

Collaborating with related organizations is another way to extend your impact. For instance, APTA collaborated with the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition on a brochure entitled, Be Active, Be Fit: Beginning and Maintaining a Physical Activity Program. 

What resources and programs have you developed to help your members promote physical activity in their communities?

The American Physical Therapy Association Section on Geriatrics held a 3-day conference in July 2010 on the campus of the University of Indianapolis to promote the application of research on benefits of exercise for older adults into clinical practice. Both the content format and the unique meeting planning create a model that may be useful to other organizations planning an education offering on the value of physical activity.

The conference, Exercise and Physical Activity in Aging Conference (ExPAAC): Blending Research and Practice, was hosted by the University of Indianapolis Center for Aging & Community and Krannert School of Physical Therapy, and drew 350 participants. Presentation topics included the effects of PA and exercise on health and aging, how to affect behavioral change, and evidence-based prescription for older adults. Our goals for the conference were to: 1) make available current research about PA and exercise from middle through older adulthood; 2) translate research into evidence based practice; 3) identify barriers to translation of research into evidence based practice; 4) promote best practices in physical therapist practice; and 5) evaluate public policies that influence the capacity of physical therapists to provide services. Speakers included national and international researchers Jack Guralnik, MD, PhD, MPH; Pamela Duncan, PT, PhD, FAPTA, FAHA; Alexandre Kalache, MSc, MD, PhD, FRCPH; James Rimmer, PhD; Thomas Prochaska, PhD; Barbara Resnik, PhD, RN, CRNP, FAAN, FAANP; and Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD.

Session topics included national and international physical activity initiatives, effects of physical activity and exercise on components of health and aging, determinants of behavior change, and evidence based practice exercise for optimizing function. We also held an evening poster presentation session to highlight case reports, research studies, special interest reports, and theory reports. Some participants wished to attend ExPAAC but felt they needed a review in geriatrics, so we offered a one-day pre-conference course that enabled these participants to maximize their experience. The closing keynote speech was delivered by Dr. James Canton, PhD, renowned author and advisor from the Institute for Global Futures.

Holding the conference at the university allowed us to have many great opportunities for networking and discussion - both formal and informal - at mealtimes in the campus cafeteria, during breaks on the outdoor commons, and at several special social events planned for conference attendees. Attendees stayed in the nearby Holiday Inn or in the dormitories on campus, which had the advantages of lower hotel and meeting site costs. An additional benefit was that conference participants were invited to attend exercise classes and to use campus recreational facilities during their free time.

For those who were unable to attend ExPAAC, we made sure that all of the sessions could be purchased through the APTA Learning Center at (click on "Courses" and search for ExPAAC). The PowerPoint presentations and the commentary of the experts during their ExPAAC presentations were included. Each session features multiple choice question examinations for the purposes of CEU credit.

Because of ExPAAC's overwhelming success, the Section on Geriatrics is considering an "ExPAAC II" in the next 5-10 years. We hope that a model such as ours will be as successful for you as it was for us...

Written by guest bloggers: Ellen Milner, PT, PhD; David M. Morris, PT, PhD

With the recent activities of the American Public Health Association's "Safety is No Accident: Live Injury-free" campaign during the week of April 4-10, we would like to continue to raise awareness about falls prevention. Falls are a major health concern among older adults. More than one-third of older adults fall each year, and fall rates increase with advancing age.¹ Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths, the most common cause of non-fatal injuries, and the most common reason for hospital admission due to trauma in older adults.² Every hour, there is one death and 183 emergency department visits for falls-related injuries among older adults and more than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls.³

These facts are a scary reality; however, we know the most common risk factors⁴ of falling. They include the following:

• Conditions associated with aging
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty with balance or walking
• Vision problems
• Pre-existing medical conditions that limit mobility, such as Parkinson's disease, stroke or diabetes
• Conditions that cause confusion
• Being on more than four medications at the same time
• Use of assistive walking device
• Environmental hazards (e.g. throw rugs or pets)
• Difficulty completing daily living activities
• Low blood pressure
• Fear of falling
• History of fears

We also know that maintaining physical activity is critical in helping to prevent falls and can have a significant impact on many of the risk factors listed above. Performing physical activities of any fitness level - including programs, Tai Chi, aerobics and yoga - can help improve balance, strength and flexibility, and get patients moving again. In fact, effective interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older adults included exercise-based interventions provided in the home or group setting.⁵ Exercise interventions that appear to have the greatest impact are balance activities performed in standing (limit upper-extremity support), and exercise programs that are progressed based on the individual person. General exercise programs on the other hand, which do not focus specifically on balance and strength, are not as effective as individually tailored exercise.⁶ Finally, there has been strong evidence that supports a multifactorial approach to preventing falls with programs that include not just exercise but also appropriate screening, gait training and environmental assessments.⁷

According to the American Geriatrics Society's (AGS) Clinical Practice Guidelines, all should be screened for risk of falling. The AGS recommends a brief screening tool that includes three questions:

1) Have you ever fallen in the past year?

2) Has the patient had an acute fall?

3) Does the patient have difficulty with walking or balance?

If inviduals aged 65 years and older state that they have experienced two or more falls or has sustained an injury from a fall, they are considered to be at risk for falling. Likewise, if the person has difficulty with balance or walking, they may be at higher risk.

All professionals working with older adults should be aware of the risk for falls and the factors associated with a higher risk. With greater vigilance, we can prevent the injuries related to falls in older adults, as well as the related loss of function and participation in daily activities.

Are you screening older adults for falls? What community fall prevention programs are available for older adults in your community?

You can find more consumer resources about risk factors, testing balance, and where to find a physical therapist by visiting Move Forward.