On today's episode, Julie is joined by Kiersten McCartney to discuss functional fitness for the adaptive athlete. Dr. Kiersten McCartney, PT, DPT, PhD-S, has a passion for engaging people with disabilities in exercise, fitness, and sport. As a lifelong athlete, Kiersten knows firsthand the physical, mental, and social benefits of exercise and believes in the power of fitness as a vessel to help people find their potential. As a former exercise physiologist at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, IL, Kiersten developed individual fitness programs for people of all abilities, including those with neurological impairments, such as spinal cord injury, stroke, and Parkinson’s Disease. She is a Physical Therapist and PhD Student in the Neuromotor & Behavior Lab researching physical activity and high intensity exercise in people with chronic stroke at the University of Delaware. In 2021, Kiersten was appointed to the CrossFit Adaptive Competition Eligibility Board to help develop the processes for athlete eligibility in Adaptive Divisions. She co-founded Arena Adaptive where she coaches group Functional Fitness classes for Adaptive Athletes. Kiersten and I discuss how she creates fitness programs for people of all abilities, why fitness serves as a catalyst for improving self confidence, and her current pursuits as a PhD student.
Shownotes:
05:01- Who are Adaptive Athletes?
09:00- What drove you to work with Adaptive Athletes?
17:30- "Tell these kids they can before somebody tell's them they can't"
21:50- Factors to Consider when Programming for Adaptive Athletes.
25:00- Balancing Intensity to Optimize Outcomes.
29:45- Helping Athletes Overcome Fear of Failure.
35:11- Fitness Develops Self-Efficacy & Confidence
39:00- "Learn the rest of their story and understand just how capable they are"
Show Links:
instagram.com/runyourdays
Move United: https://moveunitedsport.org/sports/adaptive-sports/
Adaptive Training Academy: https://www.ata.fit/
Julie's Links:
instagram.com/goalsetmindset_jb
facebook.com/goalsetmindset
