2023 MFA Webinars

Welcome to the 2023 MFA Webinar Series!

Access to Archived Webinars are a MFA Member-Only Benefit

If you have any questions, please contact Mariann Murphy

Title: Corporate Wellness – How to Get Started in this Market and How to Sell It

Presenter: Debbie Bellenger, Founder/CEO of DB Fitness & Wellness Solutions

Summary:

In this webinar, we will review the new challenges that the hybrid work environment has created for employers, rising healthcare costs, and the urgent call to action for workplace well-being based on this data. We will review the Workplace Mental Health and Well-being recommendations from Nov 2022 from the Surgeon General, Dr Vivek Murthy. We will also dive into how to write a value prop statement to convince employers how you will bend a cost curve, avoid cost and save money over time with data. It is all about convincing C suite members that there is a VOI (Value on Investment) and showing them the money in the potential savings year over year and the potential outcome if no action is taken towards improving the health of their employees.

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify current workforce challenges with the new hybrid work environment
2. Identify rising health issues due to a hybrid work environment
3. Identify potential costs aligned with the new top 3 employee health issues
4. Learn the 7 steps to writing a value prop targeting employer pain points
5. Share some sample well-being/lifestyle education programs and strategies to save an employer money

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Why Brain Health Programs Are An Absolute Essential

Presenters:

• Ryan Glatt, MS, CPT, NBC-HWC, Senior Brain Health Coach & FitBrain Director at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute Foundation
• Rich Cook, Director of Development at the Davis Phinney Foundation

Summary:

This provocative presentation will touch on the necessity of providing brain health programs to address the global issue of cognitive decline. An overview of the epidemiological issues associated with brain health, such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias, will be addressed. Specific trends and opportunities associated with brain health with also be presented, including dual-tasking, exergaming, medical fitness and health coaching. Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the problems and opportunities associated with brain health from the medical, community, and business perspectives.

Learning Objectives
1. Cover current brain health trends and data
2. Discuss the importance of movement and exercise in brain health
3. Provide the best practices for launching a targeted brain health program

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Power Training for Parkinson's Disease

Presenter: Dr. Joseph Signorile, Professor at the University of Miami, FL Department of Kinesiology and Center on Aging

Summary:

Within the past decade, the importance of power has become evident as a neuromuscular factor affecting disease state and independence in persons with Parkinson’s disease. This webinar will examine the importance of neuromuscular power to persons with Parkinson’s disease and examine the results of studies that have employed power training in these persons. We will also examine new power training protocols as well as future undertakings to more effectively apply exercise to address Parkinson’s disease.

Learning Objectives:

1. To recognize the importance of neuromuscular power to addressing reduction in symptoms and improvements in independence in persons with Parkinson’s disease.
2. To review the refereed papers from controlled studies that have examined the impact of power training on persons with Parkinson’s disease.
3. To explore the latest methods of applying power training and results showing their applicability to training patients with Parkinson’s disease.
4. To examine the clinical and research objectives to improve power training in this population.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Maximizing Your Aquatics: Pivot Strategies for Aquatic Success

Presenters:

• Timothy Petsch, Co-Founder & Director of TMI Sustainable Aquatics
• Bray Roy, Executive Director of Logan Health & Medical Center
• Beth Sibert, Aquatics Supervisor at Logan Health & Medical Center
• Jeff Jeran, Sr. Director for Power Wellness

Summary:

All aquatic facilities face ongoing challenges related to programs/services, staffing and facility/mechanical equipment maintenance. This peer panel discussion will focus on challenges and associated solutions that aquatic facilities can proactively pivot towards to maintain operations and quality services.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how two medically integrated fitness centers provide aquatic programming for their members and communities.
2. Identify common challenges associated with aquatic environments and associated services and strategies that two aquatic facilities have pivoted towards to address a variety of challenges.
3. Develop proactive strategies that your facility can pivot towards when challenges arise to maintain services.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Inexpensive Marketing for Growth & Profitability

Presenter: Sara Kooperman, CEO of SCW Fitness Education

Summary:

Examine how to market effectively, efficiently while remaining cost effective. Explore branding your business through various media driving it to success. Uncover your unique market position, develop pop-ups, postcards, social media posts, email, text messages, eNewsletters, and expand your social media presence. Explore ways to take your business to the next level with effective, strategic, and inexpensive marketing. Learn from this entrepreneur who started from a 3rd floor walk-up and created a multi-million-dollar enterprise. Leave with plenty of FREE advice and resources!

Learning Objectives:
1. Leave with an understanding of the importance of branding, from large to small, and how to use it successfully
2. Explore innovative strategies for email marketing
3. Learn new and effective ways to reach your clients through text messaging systems
4. Discover techniques for social media strategies that are systematic, inexpensive and effective

Click here for presentation slide deck.

Title: Navigating the Legal Landscape: Empowering Nutrition Coaches with a Comprehensive Understanding of Scope of Practice

Presenters: Kelly Smith, JD, and Kristin Santamaria, JD, - Co-Founders of Dotted Lines Co., LLC

Summary: In the world of nutrition and health coaching, it is crucial for professionals to have a solid understanding of the legal landscape that governs their practice. Join us for an enlightening session titled "Navigating the Legal Landscape: Empowering Nutrition Coaches with a Comprehensive Understanding of Scope of Practice," designed specifically for nutrition and health coaches seeking clarity and confidence in their industry's legal scope.

This essential session tailored specifically for nutrition and health coaches will teach you a comprehensive understanding of the legal boundaries, compliance requirements, and ethical considerations that shape your profession. Equip yourself with the knowledge to confidently navigate the legal landscape and provide effective, responsible, and legally sound nutrition coaching services to your clients.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the legal boundaries of the nutrition and health coaching industry and accurately follow compliance and explore key legal and ethical considerations.
2. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the legal framework and scope of practice specific to nutrition and health coaching.
3. Identify potential legal risks in your nutrition coaching practice and learn strategies to mitigate them effectively.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Could this be the "1-2 Punch" for weight loss success? GLP-1 Medications and Comprehensive Lifestyle Intervention Programming

Presenters:

Raina Childers-Richmond, MS, RDN, CHC - Director of Partner Success at Health One
Susan Boswell, Pharm D - Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator at Southeast Health

Summary: GLP-1 medications have been making waves for their effectiveness in promoting weight loss. However, for the best long-term results, it's essential to complement these medications with comprehensive lifestyle intervention programs. These programs are designed to provide a spectrum of care and expertise to help individuals achieve health goals. Medical fitness organizations are uniquely positioned to successfully deliver these services.

Learning Objectives
1. Review the growing use of GLP-1 medications for obesity treatment.
2. Describe the components of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention program.
3. Discuss how Medical Fitness facilities can leverage their clinical expertise and resources to compete in a growing weight loss market.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.  

Title: LALA: Longevity, Aging, Lifespan, and Avatars

Presenter: Dr. Joshua Dexheimer, VP-Product & Education at Styku

Summary: This webinar will dive into the rise and popularity of avatars. We will discuss current use cases for avatars and how we can use 3D scanning to create digital representations of the body (avatars). We will discuss popular tools and software used to generate avatars of the body. Then go into how the body avatar can be analyzed and biometrics collected can be used to assess health risks that influence aging and longevity. Those who attend the webinar will garner a deeper understanding as to how avatars may be used to assess clinical health outcomes that impact aging and longevity.

Learning Objectives
1. Understand the role avatars play in aging and longevity
2. Identify key factors that contribute to enhanced aging and longevity
3. Use avatars as a means to non-invasively and indirectly measure health risks

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Move to Improve: The Role of Immune Health and Lifestyle on Reconditioning

Presenter: Sheryl Brown, PT, MSPT, Programs Director at Cooper Wellness Strategies

Summary: Amidst the COVID era, an ever-increasing number of individuals, both young and old, are becoming more deconditioned due to sedentary lifestyle, illness and immobility. It is important for fitness professionals to understand the essential elements of immunity and the impact exercise and lifestyle play in reconditioning and immune health. By the end of the session, the fitness professional will be able to safely and effectively develop a comprehensive exercise and lifestyle program designed for reconditioning.

Learning Objectives
1. Understand what the immune system consists of and how it can be affected by lifestyle factors.
2. Define deconditioning syndrome and how exercise is beneficial in reconditioning and immune health.
3. Prescribe a comprehensive exercise program designed for reconditioning.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: The Pre/Postnatal Screening & Consultation: Improve Your Assessment to Improve Your Programming  

Presenter: Ashley Reid, Exercise Physiologist, Pre/Postnatal Wellness Practitioner & Owner of Active Mom Fitness

Summary: During and after pregnancy, moms are looking for expert guidance and, we as professionals they trust, have a huge responsibility in helping them go from the point of knowing what the physical activity recommendations are to actually putting them into practice. Less than 25% of moms-to-be meet the physical activity guidelines during pregnancy, and new moms are at a high risk of continued reduction in physical activity during the postpartum period. There are many reasons why pregnant and postpartum moms are inactive, and the assessment is our tool to identify those barriers and design an exercise program that takes those factors into account. By improving our screenings and consultations we can help more moms stay active through all 40 weeks of pregnancy and return to exercise after having a baby.

Learning Objectives:

1. Use the assessment to identify prenatal/postpartum conditions and concerns that will impact exercise programming.
2. Recognize and validate "mom barriers" to exercise by asking the right questions during a consultation.
3. Discuss what movements might be the most helpful to assess before designing an exercise program.

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Title: TriHealth’s Cancer Wellness Journey: How we grew from a fitness center program to an integral part of TriHealth’s survivorship plan of care.  

Presenter: Karen Sims - Lead Athletic Trainer/Coordinator Medical Integration Services at TriHealth Fitness & Health Pavilion  

Summary: This presentation will start with the beginning of our program, discuss its evolution and inclusion in TriHealth’s survivorship care plan. It will also discuss managing through COVID and the changes we made to it. It will also present specific outcomes and how tracking outcomes was beneficial in getting the support of our Cancer Institute. It will also give a brief overview of our goals for the future of the program.
NOTE: TriHealth’s Cancer Wellness Program was awarded a Program Innovation Award in 2021.

Learning Objectives:

1. To give an overview of the history of our cancer wellness program and how it has evolved into the program it is today.
2. To understand how we were able to manage the program through COVID and what we learned from the experience.
3. To present the specific outcomes we track and why tracking outcomes is so important.

Click here to download the presentation slide deck.  

Title: Determining the Essential Metrics for Assessing Health and Non-Communicable Disease Risk

Presenter: Dr. Joshua Dexheimer, VP Product & Education at Styku

Summary: This webinar focuses on understanding the key metrics and technology used to measure body shape and composition in evaluating health and disease risk. The presentation explores the use of metrics such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body fat percentage, to name a few, in assessing conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers. It also highlights the limitations and considerations associated with each metric and provides guidance for making informed decisions about which metrics to use in different populations and contexts. Overall, this presentation aims to provide attendees with a comprehensive understanding of the essential metrics for assessing health and non-communicable disease risk, allowing for more accurate and informed health assessments and interventions as well as provide efficacy for clinical exercise intervention.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand the correlation between human body measurements and non-communicable disease risk.
2. Identify key metrics and human body measurements indicative of health risks.
3. Select which measurement tool and technology best measures the metric being assessed and how that can be used to provide efficacy to a clinical exercise program.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Power Training: Research-Based Insights for Training Older Adults

Presenter: Dr. Joseph Signorile, Professor at the University of Miami, FL

Summary: As we age, one of the leading causes of falls is the exponential loss of power. The fact is, declines in power occur far more quickly than declines in strength. Power declines not only increase the risk of falls, but they decrease a person's independence. While the topic of power training has been addressed in literature for decades, the latest research gives new insights into its practical applications in clinical settings, such as therapy practices and fitness centers. Recent research provides simple testing procedures for assessing upper and lower body power and helps us understand how to target specific needs. This lecture will explain how to apply these new tests, training techniques and technologies for successful power training in your facility.

Learning Objectives

1.  Develop an understanding of the relationship among force, velocity and power to recognize the importance of power in improving performance of activities of daily living and reducing falling incidence.
2. Learn what optimal loading to maximize power is, how it can be assessed and its importance to power training to understand the impact of joint biomechanics on power production and designing power training programs.
3. Learn the newest methods for maximizing power gains anywhere in the load-velocity spectrum to examine the strengths and weaknesses of difference resistance training equipment types in maximizing power gains.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Strength & Power Training for the Aging Adult 

Presenter: Michael Stack, CEO Applied Fitness Solutions & Clinical Professor at the University of Michigan 

Summary: By 2035, there will be more adults over the age of 65 than there will be kids under the age of 18. While modern medicine does allow for leading longer lives, it can’t ensure we lead better lives as we age. What can, however, is the lifestyle intervention of strength and power training.

Gone are the days of the research suggesting the aging adult should do chair-based exercise with a resistance band. Nearly all the current research supports the notion that aging adults require moderate to high intensity strength training to prevent age-related declines in muscle mass, strength, and power. When properly prescribed, with an appropriate starting point, and subsequent progression, aging adults can see significant improvements in their muscular fitness and functional capacity.

This webinar will explore the underlying physiological and anatomical decrements that occur with aging and how appropriately prescribed strength and power training can mitigate these decrements. The discussion will focus on research highlighting the importance of higher load and higher velocity for aging adults. Importantly, we’ll discuss how exercise and medical professionals can approach program development in a progressive, periodized, fashion to ensure optimal outcomes and enhanced safety. Lastly, we’ll unpack the business opportunity that exists working with the aging adult population and how organizations and individuals can effectively monetize this type of service in their business model.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the underlying physiological and anatomical decrements that occur with aging and how appropriately prescribed strength and power training can mitigate these decrements.
2. Explore a prescriptive framework of periodization for strength and power training in the aging adult population.
3. Understand the business and public health opportunities that exists working with aging adults.

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: Adapting Training Modalities for Specialized Youth Athletes to Promote Tendon Health  

Presenter: Chris Armel, MS CSCS PPSC*M Pn1 – Strength & Conditioning Manager & Parisi Program Director at Valley Health Wellness & Fitness Center  

Date: March 23, 2023 

Summary: When it comes to sports performance and youth development, not much is understood in terms of tendon strength and health. Tendons are a complex structure and are responsible for transmitting force throughout our body. My lecture dives into the variation of stiffness within a tendon, how to make it stiffer or less stiff, why that happens, and what the changes lead to. We discuss research around isometrics, neurology, foot and ankle work, as well as psychology and apply that research into warmup drills. The goal of the presentation aims to make a complex topic simple to understand and implement. Developing an understanding of our tendons, roles and responsibilities allows coaches to program more effectively.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the variation in connective tissue in our tendons from the bone end to the muscle end
2. Understand implementing eccentric and isometric protocols for youth athletes that play year round
3. Understand how to prepare athletes and people for the collisions they will have in their sport, job, and life.

Click here for the presentation slide deck. 

Title: Cutting Edge Technology and Techniques to Assess the Human Body 

Presenter: Dr. Joshua Dexheimer, VP of Product & Education at Styku 

Date: February 15, 2023 

Summary: There are various body composition and assessment technologies on the market today. However, it is unclear how the technology works and which devices can be trusted. This course explores how these various technologies assess the body and how practitioners can choose which device will provide the most value for their facility and clients. 

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze the differences between measurement techniques and assessments

2. Determine best measurement assessment method for specific KPI's & goals
3. Articulate why anthropometric & body composition assessments are performed 

Click here for the presentation slide deck.

Title: A Body Neutral Approach

Presenter: Rachel Lavin - Author, Personal Trainer, Health Coach 

Date: January 12, 2023 

Summary:

People come in all shapes and sizes. The horrifying information that we pass on to our clients so they believe that if they aren’t on a strict diet and exercise program, they aren’t “Healthy”. The danger of yo-yo dieting is harder on the body than carrying ten extra pounds. Dieting for people like myself isn’t the cure, it’s the problem. I’d like to open the conversation that healthy doesn’t have to look the same on everyone, it can also look like me and so many others.  

Accepting that we are all different and the same diet and exercise plan isn’t going to work for everyone. What’s wrong with taking an individual approach. Taking time to talk to your clients current and future about what they want and what are they willing to do to get there? Giving people their power back can be just what they need to get moving, eat without guilt and shame, and have long term results. Let’s teach our clients that consistency is the key and eating a big Thanksgiving dinner once a year isn’t going to make them fat. It is ok to eat food. Let’s be honest with our clients - restrictive dieting only causes more bingeing, excessive exercise or workouts that are too hard and can lead to stopping movement altogether and cause injuries.

Learning Objectives:

1. Learn how to talk to clients on how to love their bodies and that bodies can be healthy at any size.
2. Learn how to work with clients who don’t want a diet/meal plan, who has a bigger body and just wants to move to feel good and eat to be fueled.
3. Learn how to work as a team with medical professionals, dietitians or nutritionists and the client to create a clear path to positive nutritional changes.

Click here for presentation slide deck.