Healthy
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Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program offers free health services and information to athletes in more than 120 countries. In the process, Special Olympics has become the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities.
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Healthy Athletes currently offers health screenings in seven areas:
1. Fit Feet (podiatry) Founded to evaluate problems of the feet, ankles, lower extremity biomechanics, as well as checking for proper shoe and sock gear. Many Special Olympics athletes suffer from foot and ankle pain or deformities that impair their performance. Athletes are not always fitted with the best shoes and socks for their particular sport. |
2. Health Promotion (better health and well-being)
Health Promotion uses interactive educational tools and displays, motivational literature and demonstrations to heighten the awareness of athletes, reinforcing the need to improve and maintain an enhanced level of wellness and self-care.
Its goals are to encourage and enhance healthy behaviours; reduce risky behaviours; improve self-efficacy and self-advocacy; and increase the investment of health promotion leaders for people with intellectual disabilities.
3. Healthy Hearing (audiology) Healthy Hearing has grown into a global audiological screening, care, and referral program for our athletes. Healthy Hearing also provides tests for cerumen (ear wax) and otoacoustic emissions tests. The amount of hearing loss among Special Olympics athletes is much greater than amongst the general population, as most hearing problems are previously undetected or un-served. |
4. Opening Eyes (vision)
The Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes program is a vision and eye health screening in partnership with the Lions Clubs International Foundation. Opening Eyes is able to offer prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and sports goggles to Special Olympics athletes.
5. Special Smiles (dentistry)
Special Smiles provides comprehensive oral health care information, including offering free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to participating Special Olympics athletes. This also includes issuing preventative supplies like toothpaste and toothbrushes and fluoride varnish.
Special Smiles provides comprehensive oral health care information, including offering free dental screenings and instructions on correct brushing and flossing techniques to participating Special Olympics athletes. This also includes issuing preventative supplies like toothpaste and toothbrushes and fluoride varnish.
6. FUNfitness (physical therapy)
FUNfitness is a fitness screening event. The goals of FUNfitness are to:
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7. MedFest (sports physical exam)
It is sometimes the first exposure these athletes have to medical care. In many cases, life-threatening conditions have been found and subsequently treated thanks to MedFest. The MedFest screening consists of the following stations: medical history, height and weight, blood pressure, cardiology test, musculoskeletal test, orthopedic tests, abdominal evaluation, and a check-out station.