Description

Presented by Dr. Kennedy, DPT, PhD

Participant registration

• $20 per non-APTA participant (pizza, salad, water included)
• Free APTA Oregon members

Course Learning Outcomes 

• Identify unique barriers that diverse patient populations my face accessing physical activity programs, including cultural, socioeconomic, and sensory/communication considerations 
• Apply evidence-based strategies for recommending and supporting physical activity participation when working with patients

Abstract: Physical activity and sport participation decline significantly across the lifespan, with particularly low rates among youth with disabilities, adolescents excluded from competitive sport, working adults, and older adults. Physical activity promotion by healthcare professionals is a key component in reversing this trend, however, the effectiveness of physical activity promotion for individuals across the lifespan, and across different levels of ability are often varied. This may be due to how health professionals view this idea of “return to sport”.  Historically, ableist perspectives have influenced the perception that "return to sport" is reserved for those with the potential to return to a sport as they did prior to any pathology. This narrow definition has created systemic barriers that prevent healthcare professionals from recognizing and facilitating sport and physical activity opportunities for diverse populations. This session challenges these assumptions and invites a critical discussion to redefine the concept of "return to sport" across the lifespan in order to build a bridge to sport and physical activity participation. Through case examples and evidence-informed approaches, we will propose practical strategies for implementing these new definitions in clinical practice. Participants will be invited to engage in reflective dialogue and exchange ideas for practicing anti-ableism when promoting return to sport and physical activity for clients across the lifespan.

Bio: Winston Kennedy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Department of Public Health & Health Sciences at Northeastern University. He directs the Translational Research for Inclusion Belonging and Equity (TRIBE) Lab, where his scholarship centers on disability across the lifespan through an intersectional lens that examines equitable access to health, healthcare, and physical activity. Dr. Kennedy earned his PhD in Kinesiology from Oregon State University, where his dissertation explored physical therapists' physical activity promotion practices for patients with neurological disorders. He also holds an MPH in Health Promotion Health Behavior from Oregon State, a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Florida International University, and a BA in Psychology from Hampton University, where he was a Division I football scholarship athlete. His postdoctoral training includes fellowships at the E.K. Shriver Center at UMass Chan Medical School and Merrimack College, as well as completion of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. His research encompasses two primary themes: health professional pedagogy and physical activity promotion with under-resourced communities. Dr. Kennedy has authored over 20 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 60 national and international presentations.