Montefiore Medical Center Physical Therapy Department promoted physical activity by sponsoring a two-mile run/walk to benefit B'N Fit, a Montefiore program that teaches teens how to adopt healthy, physically active lifestyles.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 68% of adults over the age of 20 are either overweight or obese. 

With Americans' health challenges in mind, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) dedicated October’s annual National Physical Therapy Month (NPTM) to letting people know that  children and adults ― both able-bodied and differently-abled ― can help prevent obesity and its consequences by following the HHS Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. We chose to place our emphasis on obesity prevention

According to a 2009 PEW Research Center study, 61 percent of American adults look online for medical help. Knowing this we decided to engage our audience by hosting a Tweet Chat. We partnered with AOL’s “That’s Fit,” a popular, interactive, online fitness, health and wellness resource to host the chat and addressed issues related to the role of physical activity in staying fit, starting an exercise regimen, and exercise considerations for people who are obese and/or have type 2 diabetes. We found that this was a great addition to our PR efforts, as our post-chat report indicated that we reached an estimated audience of 81,000.  We plan to incorporate social media into our NPTM efforts for the foreseeable future and we plan to encourage our members to make social media part of their own efforts.

We developed a variety of materials for members, the media, and the public.  For APTA members, the NPTM Web page featured new additions to our “staple” resources such as sample Facebook and Twitter posts and a downloadable board game.  For the public and the media, we included some of the above, with links to HHS physical activity guidelines, including guidelines for adults with disabilities and health conditions such as type 2 diabetes. We also posted a “physical activity” page on our consumer Web site that included information from our press release and links to our Find-a-PT database and a YouTube video about physical activities for kids of all abilities.

It was satisfying to see the creative ways in which members got the word out in their communities.  These included free community lectures, booths at local health fairs, a run/walk to benefit a program that teaches teens how to adopt healthy, physically active lifestyles, and a professor and her students visiting all three national morning shows. We always ask for members to send us their photos and descriptions of their events so we can showcase them on our NPTM page.  We also provide links to the previous years’ descriptions and photos so members can get ideas for the current year.

This week we would like to spotlight the West Virginia Physical Activity Symposium:  A First Step in the Development of a WV Physical Activity Plan.

Program Basics

The West Virginia Physical Activity Symposium was organized to draw the attention of statewide media, state government officials, and sector and regional representation from organizational leaders and other individuals throughout the state, to focus on the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan (WV PAP) and was held in June 1010.   As part of the Symposium, working groups were formed to look at the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) strategies, and within each sector, select and refine strategies that are appropriate for WV. Groups were asked to begin to formulate action steps that could be incorporated into an effective plan to meet the needs of the state.   Results of these meetings were used to begin writing a statewide PAP appropriate to meet the context of WV, with final release of the statewide Plan slated for May 2011. As with the NPAP, the WV PAP is based on the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, using the Guidelines as a foundation for plan development, policy recommendations, and advocacy.

 
Measuring Success

Success was evaluated by looking at process indicators. The PA Symposium included 250 attendees, 7 nationally recognized speakers who shared a global perspective on physical activity and the sector-specific connection, 43 WV programs and research projects presenting posters, 18 WV professionals making oral presentations, and 3 nationally recognized celebrities (Shannon Miller, Olympic Gymnast; Jared Fogle, Subway Spokesman; Phil Psister, World’s Stongest Man) who promoted the message for increased physical activity.  In addition, Governor Joe Manchin and the First Lady Gayle Manchin participated throughout, including hosting a reception for guests and the All-Conference Picnic at the Governor’s Mansion.  Process indicators for success were accomplished, and in most cases, exceeded.

Challenges

While Eloise Elliott, the chair of the WV PA Plan, did not mention facing any challenges, coordinating a statewide symposium is no simple feat. It can be difficult to reach all of the target populations or create enthusiasm for the event.

Implementing a Similar Program in Your Community

Elliott gave the following suggestions to consider when trying to develop a PAP plan or hold a symposium:

·         Development begins with at least one key stakeholder who can provide statewide leadership and a team of dedicated individuals who can serve on a working coordinating committee. 

·         Key players include state policymakers and government agencies, state and local organizational partners that can provide input and leadership, and many interested individuals and groups who can foster implementation of the strategies and give grassroots input. 

·         Representation from all societal sectors and from all regions of the state is imperative.  The call for action is for EVERYONE who can impact PA participation and/or opportunities to get involved, provide input, take ownership, and make it happen! 

·         A statewide initiative, such as a PA Symposium as an initial “first step” helps to facilitate interest and support, educates the state about the NPAP, and gives sectors and regional representatives throughout the state a venue to share best practices, and provide initial input into state needs, barriers and successes.

How has your community worked toward implementing the National Physical Activity Plan?  Share your challenges and successes by commenting, below!

With one in three children in the nation obese or overweight and diabetes rates expected to rise dramatically over the next several decades, the imperative to help and support families sustain healthy lifestyles is as great as ever. Finding time for regular physical activity, eating healthy food, and finding supportive environments and relationships all have an impact on the health and well-being of children, adults, families and the communities where they live.

I can tell you that every day, in Ys across the country, we see and hear about the challenges families face. We know that busy families may feel many barriers to engaging in healthy lifestyles – anything ranging from long work hours, to overscheduled kids, and neighborhoods that are just unsafe for walking and playing.  Taking small steps and making incremental changes toward incorporating healthy activities into family routines so they don’t seem cumbersome or overwhelming can be a solution to overcome some barriers. 

Healthy Family Home^TM , a YMCA initiative, helps families adopt and maintain healthy behaviors like being more physically active by providing them with fun, simple and engaging activities that they can build into their daily schedules. Healthy Family Home is based on five pillars that support a healthy family home: Eat Healthy; Play Every Day; Get Together; Go Outside; and, Sleep Well. The physical activity component – Play Every Day – focuses on things families can do together.  And it doesn’t matter what the activity is, it’s just about getting moving and being together.

The Y understands that healthy living begins at home. It’s important that families create environments that support healthy behaviors but we know that this is sometimes easier said than done. At the Y, we’ve made an intentional effort to support all individuals who struggle to adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles. So in addition to the many programs aimed at getting kids and families active inside the walls of the Y – Healthy Family Home helps to ensure that families are equipped to take what they’ve learned at the Y home with them. But you don’t have to be a Y member to reap the benefits.  Families who have never even stepped foot in a YMCA can learn how to engage their families in healthy lifestyles by visiting www.ymca.net. 

What we’ve learned is that parents want to create healthy environments, but they often don’t know how to make it happen in their home. And a one-size-fits all strategy isn’t going to work for all families. As professionals, we can help guide, support families and provide them with the tools and resources to apply what they’ve learned when they are at home and we aren’t around. 

What do you think of Healthy Family Home?   For more information about Healthy Family Home, visit: www.ymca.net

How might you help families that you work with adopt and maintain healthy habits?