FUNfitness (physical therapy)

FUNfitness is the physical therapy discipline of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes ® that addresses the ongoing health needs of Special Olympics (SO) athletes. FUNfitness provides athletes the opportunity to be screened for flexibility of hamstring, calf, shoulder rotator and hip flexor muscles; functional strength of the abdominal and lower extremity muscles; and balance. During these screenings physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and physical therapist or physical therapist assistant students work with athletes and coaches to improve optimal function in sports training and competition, prevention of or reduced risk for injury and recommending exercises and other helpful strategies.

For more information please contact us at funfitness@specialolympics.org.

• Fact Sheets (PDF): Global | United States
• Clinical Director Role (webpage)
• Health Professional Training: Special Olympics has developed training for healthcare providers on working with people with intellectual disabilities. These free e-learning courses are available online. This interactive learning experience arms healthcare providers with the knowledge and understanding of how to be more inclusive as it relates to health programming and services.

• Clinical Director Training Manual (PDF)
• General Volunteer Guide (PDF)

• Training and Sample Screening (video)
• Athlete and Caregiver Manual (PDF)
• Program and Clinical Director Manual (PDF)
• Screening Schedule and Data Collection Tool (XLSX)
• Virtual Fitness Education (PPTX)
• Fitness Education Handout (PDF)

• HAS (webpage)
• Insurance and Hold Harmless Agreement (PDF)
• Sign-up Sheet (PDF)
• Event Summary Form (DOCX)
• Media Release Form (PDF)

• Standard Event Equipment (DOC)
• Master Equipment List (PDF): A list of supplies that can be requested from Special Olympics for your Healthy Athletes event.

• Athlete Scorecard (PDF)
• Physical Therapist Referral Form (PDF)

• Discipline Specific Branding Materials
• Health Branding and Graphics

• Decision Tree for Assessment of O2 Saturation (PDF)
• World Confederation for Physical Therapy Network Page (webpage)
• American Physical Therapy Association (website)

See all stories related to this discipline.