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.
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.
Having mentored coaches of all types on working with adaptive athletes, we have designed this course to answer all the most common questions:
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.
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:
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.
Funded by the VA Adaptive Sports Grant
This fee is refunded upon conclusion of the course if you meet any of the following criteria:
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.
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:
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?
What should I bring with me if it is an in-person Course?
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