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The Importance of Non-Sport Related Activities

The YMCA

Center for Interprofessional Education and Research

Interprofessional Community Practicum Experience

IPE 4900 – FALL 2020

Team #9: Elizabeth Gallagher (Nursing), Maggie Pawlowski (Physical Therapy), Lilly Breheny (Physical Therapy), Sara Tiro (Nursing), Madeleine Gill (Nursing), Su Mon (Nursing)

REFERENCES

SETTING

Agency Name: YMCA

Target Population: MIddle schoolers and Teens

Description of Services:

The Teen exercise program encourage teens to be healthy so they can be the best version of themselves in order to contribute to the community. The program involve healthy eating and physical activity that include fun and effective social exercises with trained instructors and motivating music.

Mission: “To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.”

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Agency-Identified Goal: “Physical Activity and Fitness for Kids - Develop a Virtual Program.”

SMART Objectives:

  1. 75% of middle schoolers enrolled at the YMCA will receive resources on how to increase physical activity during virtual learning by November 1st.
  2. At least one parent of middle schoolers will give them enough space and engage in physical activity with them by October 20th.
  3. YMCA site coordinator will either reach out to middle schoolers or allow us to reach out to them to provide materials and collect data by October 8th

Rationale:

“Trying to build big muscles can put too much strain on young muscles, tendons and areas of cartilage that haven’t yet turned to bone; For kids, light resistance and controlled movements are best-with special emphasis on proper technique and safety” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2020).

HP2030 Topic & Objective:

Topic: Physical Activity

Objective: PA-07: Increase the proportion of adolescents who do enough muscle-strengthening activity.

Activities:

  1. Presented research to YMCA staff on the importance of non-sport exercises i.e. stretching, resistance bands, strength training.
  2. Develop workout plan specific to middle schoolers involving meditation, games, and interactive family activities.

PROJECT OUTCOMES

SMART Objective 1: 75% of middle schoolers enrolled at the YMCA will receive resources on how to increase physical activity during virtual learning by November 1st. The YMCA informed us that all the enrolled students received a resistance band to use to increase physical activity.

Outcome: MET

SMART Objective 2: At least one parent of middle schoolers will give them enough space and engage in physical activity with them by October 20th. This was not met because we did not have any way to know or see this happen or collect the data to support this objective.

Outcome: NOT MET

SMART Objective 3: YMCA site coordinator will either reach out to middle schoolers or allow us to reach out to them to provide materials and collect data by October 8th. The YMCA reached out to the middle schoolers and provided them with materials but it was not by October 8th and data was not collected.

Outcome: PARTIALLY MET

REFLECTION

Our group met with YMCA staff over Zoom regarding what issues they are facing to keeping middle school age children healthy and active during at-home school learning. After spending a week researching appropriate fitness plans and ideas, our project was changed. YMCA staff requested that we don’t find the activities, more so that we find background information on existing activities.

This change affected our SMART objectives and our goal of the project. We then shifted our focus to research the importance of doing non-sport related activities. After finding this research and presenting it to the staff over Zoom, they expressed that this is what they were looking for.

As a group, we learned how to efficiently collaborate as an interprofessional team and how the YMCA works with the public community.

FUTURE ACTIONS

  1. Develop fitness plans specific to all age groups and provide instructions on proper exercise techniques.
  2. Increase options for non-sport related exercises that incorporate all family members.
  3. Implement long term programs that educate middle schoolers on the benefits of exercise, mental health, and healthy lifestyle.