Presentation Abstract

Adaptive Fitness – Safely and Effectively Bridging the Gap to Fitness Following Therapy

Obtain insight into safe, effective adaptive fitness programming for individuals with physical disabilities as a supplemental tool to maximize outcomes in Physical Therapy or as a transition into an active healthy lifestyle with goals of maintaining health and wellness to prevent secondary issues or to continue to work on neural recovery. We will highlight all of the available programming options for individuals with physical disabilities as well as the focus on safety from environment, to equipment, to accessories utilized and to adaptive fitness trainers.

DPI Adaptive Fitness is the official adaptive fitness provider for the Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital’s No Limits Adaptive Fitness program (A no cost offering to the adaptive fitness community provided in part by a grant by the Macklin Foundation and Medstar NRH). In addition, DPI has its own fully accessible adaptive fitness gym located in Fairfax, VA where programming is held daily for individuals of all abilities.
 

About Mr. Palermo

Devon Palermo is a leading authority on Adaptive Fitness for those living with or recovering from a disability. He is the Founder and Principal Director of DPI Adaptive Fitness. With over 15 years of experience in both fitness and rehabilitation, he is the go-to resource for clients, therapists, and doctors looking to maximize the benefits of adaptive exercise to improve strength, balance, function, and abilities.

He has worked with and helped to maximize independence and function for individuals following or in addition to traditional therapy who are recovering from stroke, SCI, other neurological conditions, and amputation as well as those who are vision impaired and seniors. He is the Author of the DisAbility Fitness Handbook (an exercise resource for those living with disabilities). He has also written guest articles for the Personal Trainer Development Center (PTDC)—the largest personal trainer resource center on the internet, the Stroke Comeback center, Myolyn-Myocycle functional electrical stimulation (FES) Bike, and Med Fit Professional magazine.

His adaptive fitness programming design has been recognized in the Washington Post and CBS news. Devon enjoys staying fit and active, reading, learning daily, and spending time with his wife and kids.

Mr. Palermo did not disclose any conflicts of interest for this workshop.