Balance Classes at Kauffman Physical Therapy

 Better Bones - Better Balance

 ~ Osteoporosis Fracture Prevention ~

~ Balance Exercises ~

 Wednesdays, 4/24 – 5/22

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

 804 New Holland Ave., Lancaster, PA 17602

What is the Kauffman Physical Therapy Better Bones Better Balance Class?

• Kauffman Physical Therapy (KPT) offers classes for people who want to improve mobility, increase strength, improve balance and decrease risk of falls. Classes focus on strength, balance, movement and coordination as well as education. The content of the class is based on research from the American Physical Therapy Association, from the National Osteoporosis Foundation and from the Bone and Joint Decade.
• Classes meet from 12 to 1 in a 6-week series.
• Dates are posted on the website, published on flyers or available by calling the office at 717 396-7766.
• Participants are charged $10.00 per class. Insurance is not billed.

Why should I take this Better Bones Better Balance Class?

• The purpose of the class is to teach participants about the role of exercise in managing Osteoporosis. The classes are taught by Dr. Tim Kauffman and are closely supervised by KPT staff. Each class is designed to meet the needs of the participants with the goal of improving balance and mobility that can effectively lower the risk of falls, injury and loss of independence.
• The comprehensive program includes education regarding risk factors and prevention of falls through exercise.

What participants say about this class –

• 100% have said that the quality of the program is excellent
• 100% have said it was extremely pertinent for them
• All participants have stated that the class has increased their confidence regarding walking and moving

What the instructors and staff have observed –

• 100% of participants who participated in at 5 of the 6 classes improved their balance, endurance and coordination
• Participants enjoyed the sessions, laughed, teased each other and had fun doing the exercises while meeting other women who were working on the same issues.

Who teachers the class?

• Dr. Tim Kauffman who currently serves as the liaison for the American Physical Therapy Association to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, conducts the classes.
• Additionally, he serves on an international panel that is helping to develop a guideline on exercise and osteoporosis.

What are the benefits

Class participants report:

• We have gained confidence in our movement, strength, balance, walking and exercising.
• We have learned exercises that we can safely practice at home.
• We have learned different exercises to strengthen different parts of the body. Since strong muscles help to build strong bones, this is very important.

In addition to increased understanding, awareness, strength, participants have fun and really like the exercising in a group with close, highly skilled therapists. Participants also report decreased fear of falling as a result of the class.

So, should you take this KPT class?

Our suggestion is that...

• If you meet any of the risk factors listed below OR if you have fallen or are fearful of falling, you should take the class.
• If you want to learn from an expert about the role of exercise in managing Osteoporosis, you should take this class.
• If you have not yet experienced the risk factors listed below but have family members who have, you could benefit from learning about bone strengthening and balance exercises to increase your awareness and to develop a prevention regimen. (Better yet, bring your family member and take the class with her/him.)

What can YOU do?

• Join us for the next class. Bring a friend. Make a choice to increase your strength, improve your balance, learn exercises that you can do at home, increase your confidence in moving and decrease you fear.
• For more information about the next class, call Kauffman Physical Therapy at 717 396-7766.

What is Osteoporosis?

Osteoporosis is a disease of low bone mass that increases the risk of fracture. It is a major health risk for over 28 million Americans. For more information, see the link on the KPT website for the newsletter on Osteoporosis.