Empowering athletes & coaches with the Special Olympics FUNfitness program
When Special Olympics Switzerland athlete Luca Leutwyler entered the National Games in Geneva, his focus was on Judo not health care. However the assessment and recommendations provided at the FUNfitness screening gave him and his coach crucial knowledge about how to take care of his muscles, maintain flexibility and prevent injury. Going forward, this knowledge will empower Luca not only in his Judo practice but also in his everyday life!
Over 60% of Special Olympics Athletes have flexibility, balance and strength problems exposing them to potential injuries while playing sports. The Special Olympics FUNfitness programme, one of eight Special Olympics Healthy Athletes disciplines, is designed to improve the physical fitness and performance of Special Olympics athletes addressing flexibility, functional strength, static and dynamic balance and aerobic fitness. FUNfitness screenings take place at National Games and other Special Olympics competitions, giving athletes the opportunity to have their fitness in these areas assessed.
Preventing injury
Special Olympics Switzerland athlete and Judoka Luca Leutwyler underwent a FUNfitness screening at the 2018 Special Olympics Switzerland National Games in Geneva. He was identified with flexibility deficit in his anterior hip muscles that could cause muscle injuries especially in his sport Judo. FUNfitness Clinical Director Sebastien Grossini said, “We not only provide an assessment of functional condition of the athletes but more importantly provide education on how to improve deficits in flexibility, strength and aerobic endurance — that is critical for injury prevention”.
Educating athletes and coaches
Like many other athletes at the screening, Luca received a set of recommendations and exercises to perform at home or during training to improve his anterior hip muscle flexibility. His coach Barbara Vonbank said “The information given here at FUNfitness for each athlete is important for coaches like myself in order to understand how we can improve athletes performance and prevent injuries in competition and training”.
Healthy Athletes
While Healthy Athletes is a great opportunity for athletes to get a full screening in eight different health disciplines at Special Olympics events, it cannot replace regular health care and prevention services provided by local community doctors and specialists. People with intellectual disabilities often face challenges to gaining access to adapted and quality health care and this is where Special Olympics comes in. The Healthy Communities programme facilitates athletes like Luca to connect with local health care and well being services to follow up on health issues identified at Healthy Athletes. This only works, however, when strong partnerships are in place at community level and national levels.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) Family of Companies in Switzerlandis a national partner of Special Olympics Switzerland since 2016. J&J supports with funding as well as with J&J volunteers at events such as the Regional and National Games.
Emelie Dorlin, Manager Community Impact at J&J said: “At J&J, diversity and inclusion is very important and we constantly strive for a more inclusive environment. The values that guide our decision-making are spelled out in our Credo which, put simply, challenges us to always put the needs and well-being of the people we serve first. The partnership with Special Olympics is a way for us to demonstrate our belief in the importance of equal opportunities and inclusion and support an organization with a truly important mission. Programmes like FUNfitness and Healthy Communities are an interesting addition to Special Olympics’ existing activities, as they can help provide better access to healthcare for people with intellectual disabilities.”
