Leader
Tools
Keeping participants focused
on positive lifestyle choices
OCTOBER 2016
Bone and Joint Health Action Week, October 12 – 20, 2016
The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) is a
collaborative effort to help in the prevention of bone and joint
disorders, as well as the improvement in the quality of life for
those affected, through increased awareness, solid information
and continued research.
• Musculoskeletal conditions affect more than 1.7 billion people,
and are the 2nd greatest cause of disability, and have the 4th
greatest impact on the overall health of the world population
(both death and disability.)
• Nearly half of Americans over the age of 18, and many children,
have restricted movement caused by a musculoskeletal
disorder – arthritis, back pain, fracture, osteoporosis, sports
trauma, and other ailments.
• Arthritis, the most common cause of
disability in adults in the US, is reported
by almost 50 percent of people age
65 and older. Arthritis causes more
frequent limitation of activity than heart
disease, cancer, or diabetes. By 2030, it
is projected that 25% of adults will be
affected by doctor-diagnosed arthritis.
• Osteoporosis affects 10 million
Americans; 43 million more have low
bone mass and thus are at risk. Women
are four times more likely than men to
be affected.
• Musculoskeletal impairments will
increase over the next 25 years, as they
are most prevalent in older segments
of the population. Musculoskeletal
impairments of the back and spine are
the most prevalent, affecting more than
1 in 4 adults.
Adapte
from thed
USBJI
website
Resource provided by the
Aquatic Exercise Association
www.aeawave.com
941.486.8600
HEALTH
EDUCATION
The Bone Bank Account
Excerpt from the article Osteoporosis by Dr, Karl Knopf
Reprinted with permission from Akwa magazine
Think of bone as a bank account where you “deposit” and
“withdraw” bone tissue. In order to be able to make “deposits”
of bone tissue and reach the greatest possible peak bone
mass, you need adequate calcium, vitamin D and exercise. In
many situations, bone loss (“overdrawing the bank account”)
can be prevented by continuing to intake adequate calcium
and vitamin D, maintaining a regular exercise program, and by
avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol.
Osteoporosis develops when bone removal occurs too quickly,
replacement occurs too slowly, or both. You are more likely
to develop osteoporosis if you did not reach peak bone mass
during your bone-building years. Bone density is much like
a honeycomb. A person with good bone strength will have a
tightly woven bone matrix, whereas someone with osteoporosis
will have large gaps that make the bone weak.
Interestingly, no matter what the person’s age, the procedures for
maintaining bone strength and density are similar.
• Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
• Obtain the daily recommendations of calcium and vitamin
D. Consult your health professional or registered dietician
regarding correct dosage.
• Speak to your healthcare provider about any side effects of
your medications.
• Consult with your healthcare provider
regarding bone density testing.
• Engage in regular weight-bearing
and muscle-strengthening exercises;
water resistance exercise has merit.
Wolff’s Law states that forces applied
to the bone have a direct relationship
to strength of the bone. When the
muscle pulls on the bone, the bone
responds by becoming stronger.
Individuals who have been physically
active throughout their lives generally
have stronger bones than do those
who have led more sedentary lives. But
it’s never too late to start exercising.
Manage your bone bank account with
proper diet, healthy lifestyles and
regular exercise.
Resource provided by the
Aquatic Exercise Association
www.aeawave.com
941.486.8600
EXERCISE OPTION
Swallowing Exercise
CONTINUING
EDUCATION
Submitted by Donna Adler, Program Leader Trainer
As we age, the disks between vertebrae lose fluid and become
thinner, and the spine becomes shorter. Changes at the top
of the spine cause the head to tip forward, compressing the
throat, which may lead to swallowing difficulties and choking
hazards.
Here is a simple swallowing exercise to help avoid this issue.
• Many people clench their teeth from pain or stress.
Touch the tip of the tongue to the roof of the mouth as
if pronouncing the word “let’, which helps to relax the
masseter muscles. Swallow in this position. Note: this
exercise is also helpful for those with fibromyalgia who
tend to hold stress in this area of the body.
• Progression. Stick out your tongue. Close your mouth with
your tongue sticking out; the teeth gently gripping the
tongue. Swallow in this position.
Have participants practice this at least 3 times during class,
and suggest that they practice on their own as well.
game
Noodle Ball
Submitted by Mary-Lee Costello, AFEP Program Leader
• Materials: Pool noodles cut each into 3 equal pieces;
balloons
• How To: Participants are seated facing one another in two
rows with about a 6-foot space. Each participant gets a
noodle and they remain seated. The program leader tosses
the balloons into the air in the middle of the participants
and they swat the balloons back and forth to one another.
It elicits many giggles, is great for socialization, improves
eye/hand coordination, and increases reaching range of
motion. Bonus: the program leader gets LOTS of exercise
too keeping the balloons “in play”.
• Note: This game can work equally well in the pool. Stand,
either in lines or in a circle, depending on size of class and
pool space available.
All Program Leaders must obtain
15 hours of approved AEA Arthritis
Foundation Continuing Education Credits
(AFCECs) every two years to maintain
your AEA training certificate. AEA offers
workshops as well as online education
that help you to expand your teaching
skills, knowledge base and motivation.
Current AEA Arthritis workshops
include the in-depth Program Leader
Development, which is a 7-hour course
that supplements the AEA AF Manual
and Online Course. There are also 2-hour
courses: Motivating Your Participants,
Lesson Planning Tips & Tools, and
Teaching Platforms (designed to develop
your teaching skills and personal fitness
level). Participate in these innovative
and engaging workshops to polish your
leadership skills!
You can
a list of o find
AF approther
courses a ved
AEA web t the
site
Don’t wait until your
certificate is about to expire, gain your
required continuing education now!
Resource provided by the
Aquatic Exercise Association
www.aeawave.com
941.486.8600
the
netherlands
Submitted by Katrien Lemahieu, Program Leader Trainer
How do I implement the AFAP concepts into my regular
exercise classes? Here in the Netherlands, I offer specialized
aquatic programming. A transfer group is a structured class that
blends ADLs, basic aquatic exercises, and individualized training
for different goals. Participants have various conditions, such as
rheumatoid arthritis (RA), fibromyalgia, joint replacement, low
back pain, and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Everyone is welcome
as long as the individual can independently support himself
in a vertical position in the pool.
Every month we target a different goal, which is basically the
same structure as the AFAP. Exercises from the AEA AF Manual
are implemented in the classes and given as homework, so
that participants can continue on their own with additional
exercise. This has proven very successful. Not only have I seen
improvements in body awareness, but the class structure also
gives each individual a purpose (to strive for a higher quality of
life with less pain) and serves as a social peer group. The group
attitude has changed from ‘I can’t do this.’ to ‘Look what I can do!’
A global
perspective
Meet Hans, one of my students,
who shares his personal
success story:
In 2006 I was diagnosed with rheumatoid
arthritis (RA); in fact I had been dealing with
RA for 10 years! In 2011 the government
made changes to our health insurance; I
could only receive physical therapy and had to go to the pool on
my own to do my own exercises. The lifeguard suggested I join
an exercise group, and, yes, I felt benefit and progression there.
For the past two years I have been participating in a groupbased hydrotherapy class with Katrien Lemahieu, who offers a
challenging yet fun class. Katrien informs the group of the latest
techniques and offers an amazing range of structured exercises
that we all benefit from. Thanks to that program, her skills as
a teacher (and my metal braces), I can drive my car and ride
my electric bike again. My walking gait has improved and I am
better able to enjoy each day. Our lives (class members) have
improved because of the program and the motivation of the
teachers to encourage our progress. We all benefit, and I thank
God I am so much happier!
Resource provided by the
Aquatic Exercise Association
www.aeawave.com
941.486.8600