Fit Feet (Podiatry)
A discipline of Healthy Athletes, Fit Feet is a podiatric screening for Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) that focuses on athletes’ ankle & foot health, lower extremity biomechanics, as well as footwear fit and condition. Many Special Olympics athletes are wearing the wrong size or type of shoes while competing, which can contribute to or worsen the presence of foot and ankle pain and dysfunction. Together, these issues can negatively impact an athletes’ navigation of everyday life and sport performance. During Fit Feet screenings, volunteer foot care specialists & students work with athletes to identify areas of concern. Using the results of the screening, volunteers provide athletes, coaches, families, and caregivers education on proper foot care and health to maximize the athlete’s ability to step lively onto the playing field of everyday life.
For further information or general inquiries related to this discipline, please contact us at fitfeet@specialolympics.org. SO Program staff and established Clinical Directors are encouraged to submit their questions through our online form available here.
For further information or general inquiries related to this discipline, please contact us at fitfeet@specialolympics.org. SO Program staff and established Clinical Directors are encouraged to submit their questions through our online form available here.
Fit Feet Introduction Video
Special Olympics Fit Feet offers screenings to evaluate ankles, feet, lower extremity biomechanics, and proper shoe and sock gear to participating athletes.
CLINICAL DIRECTORS
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Clinical Director Role (webpage)
Special Olympics Clinical Directors are volunteer professionals who are responsible for working with their local Special Olympics Program and other volunteer health professionals in coordinating the local Healthy Athletes Program. - Clinical Director Application Questionnaire (DOCX)
- Clinical Director Manual (PDF)
VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT
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Volunteer with Healthy Athletes
Join the more than 90,000 health care providers and students worldwide who have volunteered with the Healthy Athletes program. - Volunteer Recruitment Template
- Volunteer Certificate (DOCX)
EVENT RESOURCES AND EQUIPMENT
- HAS
- Legal Forms
- Equipment and Supply List
- Event Planning Materials
- Athlete and Caregiver Resources
- Virtual Fit Feet
HAS
Legal Forms
Equipment and Supply List
Event Planning Materials
Athlete and Caregiver Resources
Virtual Fit Feet
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HAS Form (webpage)
The Healthy Athletes System (HAS) enables the electronic capture of screening data across the Healthy Athletes disciplines.
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Equipment and Supply List (PDF)
Printing needs, general and electrical supplies, screening materials, miscellaneous. -
Henry Schein: SO Jamaica, Germany and Canada ONLY International (website)
Please feel free to use below links to order appropriate supplies/equipment not specific to discipline. Notice there are separate lists for the US or International requests. To guarantee timely delivery please make sure to submit requests 90 days prior to the event date. -
Henry Schein: All US Programs (website)
Please feel free to use below links to order appropriate supplies/equipment not specific to discipline. Notice there are separate lists for the US or International requests. To guarantee timely delivery please make sure to submit requests 90 days prior to the event date.
Educational Materials
- Fit Feet Educational Handout - US only (PDF)
- Fit Feet Educational Handout - Non-US (PDF)
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Fit Feet MyHealth page (webpage)
This Fit Feet tool is an online hub for health education resources geared towards Special Olympics athletes and other people with intellectual disabilities that creates a fun online learning environment through visually engaging materials that allow users to learn more about their health at their own pace.
HEALTH PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES
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Health Professional Training
Take free eLearning courses to learn how to treat people with intellectual disabilities.
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How to Speak with People with Disabilities (video)
Whether you are in a health care or other professional environment or just having a personal conversation, consider these basic rules for communicating with a person with an intellectual disability. Download - How to work with SO athletes (PDF)
- AAPSM website
ADDITIONAL RELATED RESOURCES
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Fit Feet Introduction Video
Special Olympics Fit Feet offers screenings to evaluate ankles, feet, lower extremity biomechanics, and proper shoe and sock gear to participating athletes.