Intro to Adaptive Training Course | Movement Rx

Intro to Adaptive Training Course

Want to safely work with adaptive athletes?The Movement Rx Intro to Adaptive Training Course is purpose-built for healthcare pros, fitness trainers, and sports coaches who want to help their adaptive athletes improve lifestyle, performance, and avoid injury.

The last FREE is course is

the September 16 Virtual Course!

Our Intro to Adaptive Training Course

Since 2014 the physical therapy and coaching team at Movement Rx has led specialized functional fitness classes for Adaptive Athletes. Participants include veterans, active duty personnel, and civilians alike. Their adaptations are both visible (missing limbs, wheelchair, etc) and invisible (traumatic brain injuries (TBI), PTSD, etc).

Over the years we have found that there are many therapy, fitness, trainer, and coaching professionals who want to work with adaptive individuals but don’t know how to get started. In addition, many adaptive sports coaches lack the training to effectively integrate strength & conditioning as well as proper recovery tactics with their teams during the season and in the off season. Unfortunately, there is a general lack of confidence in speaking with, programming for and coaching individuals with permanent impairments. As a result, the population that needs the most help, gets the least.

To bridge this gap, we have created an introductory full day course for working with adaptive athletes. With thousands of hours working with adaptive athletes, we have distilled the practice down to the essential knowledge needed for any professional to get started.

What’s Covered in the Course

Having mentored coaches of all types on working with adaptive athletes, we have designed this course to answer all the most common questions:

  • How do I talk to the disabled population?
  • How do I create programming for or adapt my programming to the impaired population?
  • What are the most common types of impairments?
  • What are the most common types of medical equipment?
  • How do I adapt movement X, to an athlete with condition Y?
  • How do I assess an adaptive athlete who is ambulatory and how do I asses an adaptive athlete who is not ambulatory?
  • How do I provide an adaptive athlete with methods to help fix their current movement impairments?

To answer these questions, we will start with a high-level discussion of function and drill down all the way to adapting specific movements. The course will start with a general introduction to functional movement as a concept. We will then explore what differentiates normal vs. abnormal movement. With the general foundation of normal movement in hand, we will then focus on the adaptive population in particular. First by understanding how to talk with and coach an impaired athlete, then secondly how to think about programming for that athlete. Once these general techniques are understood, we will next take a deep dive into the four major impairment categories: Lower Limb, Upper Limb, Wheeled, Traumatic Brain Injury/Invisible Wounds. We will finish by spending the remainder of the course detailing how each of the 7 major functional movements interact with each of these impairments.

Course Details

The Movement Rx Intro to Adaptive Training Course is a full day course. In this course health professionals, coaches and trainers (HCTs) of adaptive athletes will be trained on adaptation-specific strength & conditioning methodologies as follows:

  1. Help improve HCT confidence so you CAN integrate strength & conditioning into your athletes’ training for their sport outside of the rehabilitation environment,
  2. Help HCTs identify what optimal normal movement looks like so you can better identify abnormal movement during practice and competition;
  3. Learn movement principles of the spine, major joints, and execution of primal movements (squatting, hinging, pushing, pulling, carrying) so you can help your athletes be successful in mitigating musculoskeletal injuries and improving their performance in daily life and in their sport of choice;
  4. Understand basic functional human movement as it applies to major permanent physical impairments;
  5. Learn the fundamental strategies to adapt movements for all major movement and mobility impairments across primary disability categories;
  6. Be aware of all the most common medical devices and which devices are best with what sport or movements;
  7. How to safely and effectively adapt common training movements to all these major impairments.

About the Instructors

Dr. Theresa Larson

DPT, SFMA

Dr. Theresa Larson, DPT, SFMA has over 10 years of 1-on-1 and small group sports performance rehabilitation and training with adaptive athletes, and created the Movement Rx Adaptive Athlete program and courses. Additionally, she has taught over 50 day-long seminars – reaching 1,600 professionals – on improving movement and mobility to non-adaptive athletes and coaches. She has served as a physical therapy consultant to multiple adaptive-specific organizations including Crossroads Adaptive Athletic Alliance, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Adaptive Performance Systems, Team RWB, and Balboa Naval Hospital’s wheelchair basketball program.

Dr. Megan Graff

DPT, CSCS, OCS, FAAOMPT

Dr. Megan Graff, DPT, CSCS, OCS, FAAOMPT has 14 years of experience in working with individuals with disabilities. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy, she has provided courses of care for several dozen individuals with disabilities. She has served as a Coach for the Adaptive Strength Class since 2017 and spent three years volunteering with an equine therapy center that focused on riders with disabilities. She has also led nearly 40 movement health workshops as a lead instructor.

Course Pricing

$10

Funded by the VA Adaptive Sports Grant

This fee is refunded upon conclusion of the course if you meet any of the following criteria:

  • You are a disabled veteran in good standing with the VA
  • You are a coach, therapist, or trainer who currently works with Disabled Veterans
  • You are a coach, therapist, or trainer who would like to work with Disabled Veterans
  • You are a family member of a Disabled Veteran

Upcoming Courses

We are currently offering the course through live in-person and online webinars. Enter your email address to be notified about upcoming dates in 2023.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone attend?

Yes. This seminar is appropriate for coaches, trainers, athletes, and healthcare providers of all levels who are interested in working with adaptive athletes. No prior experience and/or training is required to attend this seminar.

Why is the cost so low?

The US Department of Veterans Affairs is funding this course through its Adaptive Sports grant program. That funding offsets of the cost of the course for Disabled Veterans and those therapists, coaches, and trainers that work with Disabled Veterans.

How does the VA refund process work?

There are limited spots, so we are charging a nominal fee to ensure that registrants come to the course. If you register and do not show up, your registration fee is forfeited. Otherwise, you are eligible for a return of your registration fee if you meet any of the following conditions:

  • You are a Disabled Veteran in good standing with the VA (as shown by a VA or DD214 card)
  • You are a therapist, coach, or trainer that works with Disabled Veterans
  • You are a therapist, coach, or trainer that would like to work with Disabled Veterans
  • You are a family member of a Disabled Veteran.

During check-in on the day of the Course, we will verify that you meet any of the above. If you complete the Course, your registration fee will be credited back to your card. Note that it takes 5-7 business days for a credit to show on your account.

Will instructors share their clinical experiences working with adaptive athletes?

Yes. Participants will learn how our team evaluates an individual’s movements to uncover the root cause of dysfunctions, as well as how we adapt programming to help individuals recover faster and avoid pain/injury altogether.

What are the learning objectives of the Course?

  • Help improve your confidence so you CAN integrate strength & conditioning into your athletes’ training for their sport outside of the rehabilitation environment,
  • Help you identify what optimal normal movement looks like so you can better identify abnormal movement during practice and competition;
  • Learn movement principles of the spine, major joints, and execution of primal movements (squatting, hinging, pushing, pulling, carrying) so you can help your athletes be successful in mitigating musculoskeletal injuries and improving their performance in daily life and in their sport of choice;
  • Understand basic functional human movement as it applies to major permanent physical impairments;
  • Learn the fundamental strategies to adapt movements for all major movement and mobility impairments across primary disability categories;
  • Be aware of all the most common medical devices and which devices are best with what sport or movements;
  • How to safely and effectively adapt common training movements to all these major impairments.

What should I bring with me if it is an in-person Course?

  1. Printed version of the registration receipt
  2. Government issued photo ID (as well as a VA Card or DD214 for Veterans)
  3. We will provide standard mobility equipment, including a ball & band.
  4. Suitable clothes for working out.
  5. Snacks and fluids, as well as a meal if you do not plan on going off-site during the lunch break.
  6. Participants are welcome to bring notebooks, tablets and laptops, and they may take pictures.

Contact Us

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions or feedback. We’re here to help!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Register for Your Account

Register for an Account

Start the Sleep Challenge!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Schedule a Well-Being Strategy Call

Submit your information below and our team will respond ASAP!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Workplace Wellbeing Inquiry Form

Government Contracting Inquiry Form

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Application

  • Hidden
  • Please attach your cover letter and resume below.
    Drop files here or
    Max. file size: 1 MB.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.