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HEALTHY ATHLETES​

Health Screenings and Education
More on the Healthy Athletes Program

HEALTHY ATHLETES

Health Screenings and Education

More on the Healthy Athletes Program
Improving athlete health through screenings, education, and the care of health professionals committed to making a difference.
Cut out healthy athletes

SUPPORT FOR YOUR HEALTH JOURNEY

Special Olympics provides free health services for athletes with intellectual disabilities, offering support where it is often hardest to find. You and your family can get the information, screenings, and resources you need to better understand your health and take the next step toward feeling your best. Through Healthy Athletes, you have access to health screenings, education, and support that helps you build healthy habits and live a stronger, more confident life.

UPCOMING EVENTS

WHAT WE DO

Healthy Athletes provides accessible information, resources, systems and policies at the individual, community, national and global levels that support Special Olympics Southern California athletes in realizing sustainable healthy and productive lives.

VOLUNTEER BENEFITS

Healthy Athletes is not only a program for athletes but, through training and hands-on experience at screenings, it is a program for healthcare students and professionals to increase knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with intellectual disabilities.

2024 PROGRAM DETAILS

2,823

Screenings

920

Volunteers

36

Clinical Directors

WHY IT MATTERS

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), despite the severe need and higher health risk, people with intellectual disabilities are denied health services, community interventions, and there is a lack of targeted interventions and programs for the population. Health care professionals who volunteer with Special Olympics have found that Special Olympics athletes are at increased risk of secondary health issues:

37% have obvious, untreated tooth decay

Icon hap tooth decay

37% needed new eyewear prescription

Icon hap eyewear prescription

23% have low bone density

Icon hap low bone density

26% failed hearing tests

Icon hap failed hearing test

48% have at least one kind of skin or nail condition

Icon hap skin condition

59% of adult and 30% of youth athletes are overweight or obese

Icon hap athlete obesity
DISCIPLINES

Fit Feet

Healthyathletes fitfeet

FUNFitness

Healthyathletes funfitness

Health Promotion

Healthyathletes healthpromotion

Healthy Hearing

Healthyathletes healthyhearing

MedFests

Medfest

Opening Eyes

Healthyathletes openingeyes

Special Smiles

Healthyathletes specialsmiles

Strong Minds

StrongMinds
UPCOMING EVENTS
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PARTNERS
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Healthyathletes fitfeet

FitFeet

Special Olympics Fit Feet is a free podiatric screening for participating Special Olympics athletes.

The athletes will have their ankles, feet, lower extremity biomechanics, and proper shoe and sock gear evaluated. Fit Feet also provides referrals to athletes who require follow up services.

SCREENING PROCESS

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Dermatologic evaluation for skin and toenail problems (athlete’s foot, ingrown toenails, nail fungus, plantar warts, etc.)

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Neurologic evaluation for strength and balance

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Measurement of appropriate shoe size (length and width) and evaluation of appropriate shoe and sock type

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Musculoskeletal evaluation for strength, balance, range of motion, deformities (i.e. hammertoes, bunions, etc)

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Biomechanical evaluation for flat feet, high arches

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Gait evaluation (watching how the athlete walks)

After the screening, the clinicians will discuss the check up with the athletes, their coach, and a parent or guardian. The athletes will also receive their shoe size, any recommendations or referrals, and literature regarding common foot problems and foot care.

Healthyathletes funfitness

FUNFitness

FUNfitness is a physical therapy screening program that is designed to assess and improve physical strength, flexibility, and balance.

The screenings also educate athletes and parents on the importance of staying physically fit and flexible and provide a hands-on opportunity for participating Special Olympics athletes to learn more about physical therapy.

Developed in partnership with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), FUNfitness is led by volunteer physical therapists.

SCREENING PROCESS

A FUNfitness screening takes approximately 25-30 minutes. During the screening, health care clinicians will provide the athletes with:

Flexibility

Flexibility test using tape measures and goniometers

Strength

Strength test using a trunk and hand grip and of the lower body

Balancing

Balancing on one and two legs

Endurance

Endurance test where the athlete steps in place for two minutes or walks for three minutes

Education

Education: Athletes are provided with a written Home Exercise Program based on the test results

Healthyathletes healthpromotion

Health Promotion

Health Promotion is a free screening that offers health information and advice in the areas of nutrition, sun safety, bone density, tobacco cessation, and physical fitness.

Health Promotion is designed to convey and reinforce key concepts on healthy living, healthy lifestyle choices, and nation-specific health issues.

SCREENING PROCESS

Health Promotion screenings take approximately 15-30 minutes and focus on the following:

Nutrition

Nutrition/Hydration

Bonehealth

Bone Health

Sunsafety

Sun Safety

Tobaccoavoidance

Tobacco Avoidance & Cessation

Physicalactivity

Physical Activity

Healthyathletes healthyhearing

Healthy Hearing

The Healthy Hearing program is a free hearing screening designed to ensure proper audiological care for Special Olympics athletes.

Led by volunteer professionals, Healthy Hearing provides tests for ear wax and inner ear health.

SCREENING PROCESS

Healthy Hearing screenings take approximately 10 minutes and the process may include:

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Examination of ear canals for the presence of earwax

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Measurement of sounds in the inner ear to test for hearing impairment

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Middle ear screening

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Pure tone screening

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Noise protection universal earplugs or make custom fitted earplugs

During the screening, clinicians will also assist with hearing aid repair, answer any questions, and work with the families to improve any conditions that may impede an athlete’s hearing. The clinicians will use the following techniques during the screening:

  • Placing a small soft plug in the athlete’s ear for one minute to check their hearing
  • Athletes will wear earphones and raise their hands when they hear a soft beep
  • A tiny flashlight will be used in the athlete’s ears to look for unusual things that may be stuck in the ear
Healthyathletes openingeyes

Opening Eyes

The Special Olympics / Lions Club International Opening Eyes® program is a vision and eye health screening in partnership with the Lions Club International Foundation.

Led by volunteer vision care professionals, Opening Eyes is able to offer prescription eyewear, sunglasses, and sports goggles to Special Olympics athletes.

SCREENING PROCESS

The Opening Eyes screening takes approximately 30-45 minutes and includes the following tests:

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Vision check (far and near)

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Color vision

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Stereo (3-D) vision

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Eye alignment and muscle movement

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Eye pressure

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Front of the eye and inside the eye evaluation

An additional test may be included depending on the screening outcomes.

Every athlete who needs vision correction is provided with a free pair of glasses and/or sports goggles. Sometimes the athletes will receive their new glasses that day. For athletes who do not need prescription glasses, they may receive free sunglasses and swim goggles.

Healthyathletes specialsmiles

Special Smiles

The Special Smiles program offers free dental screening, oral health information, and instructions on proper brushing and flossing techniques to Special Olympics athletes.

The athletes will also receive preventative supplies, such as toothpaste and toothbrushes.

Athletes who require follow up dental services are referred to local oral health professionals.

SCREENING PROCESS

The Special Smiles screening process takes approximately 10-20 minutes and contains five stations:

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Check-in: Athletes are correctly identified and logged into the records.

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Dentists examine dental history, oral conditions, tooth decay, oral tissue health, injuries, and need for mouth guards.

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The hygiene station shows the athletes how to brush properly with the help of puppets and giant tooth brushes.

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Athletes will have a mouth guard fitting to protect their pretty smiles while competing in their sporting events.

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Athlete receives a goody bag, which includes toothpaste and a toothbrush.

StrongMinds

Strong Minds

Special Olympics Strong Minds is an interactive learning activity focused on developing adaptive coping skills.

Competition provides a natural opportunity to develop active strategies for maintaining emotional wellness under stress, such as: thinking positive thoughts, releasing stress and connecting with others.

SCREENING PROCESS

  • Athletes try different active coping strategies as they move through the stations.
  • At the end of the activities, athletes identify the strategies they like best and volunteers provide them with visual reminders to use these tools in competition and in daily life.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR MIND STRONG

StrongMinds Phone

Connect with others: Text, call or video chat friends, teammates, coaches and family.

StrongMinds Bed

Get 8 hours of sleep: Avoid caffeine and technology before bed.

StrongMinds Run

Stay active: Exercise 30 minutes a day most days of the week.

StrongMinds Food

Eat healthy foods: Fill your plate with fruit, vegetables, lean protein or beans and whole grains.

StrongMinds Meditate

Use Strong Minds strategies: Try deep breathing stretching/yoga and thinking positive thoughts.

StrongMinds HeartHand

Ask for help: Contact your medical provider if you feel overwhelmed.