OKenawa

Adapted Care

One-hour group sessions once a week.

The intervention comprises supervised sessions in small groups, supplemented by individually prescribed home exercises. Martial arts (karate with controlled impacts) are integrated into each session to effectively improve :

• Postural stability

• Muscular extensibility

• Joint flexibility

• balance

• Reaction time

• Coordination

• Muscular strength

• Internal sense of spatial orientation

Minimal, controlled impact, as demonstrated in recent studies, is crucial for strengthening bones.

One-hour group sessions are offered every week. Physical testing sessions are also organized throughout the year to assess progress and adjust personal objectives.

General objectives of the OKenawa® program

• Strengthen bones and the body in general to minimize the effects of osteoporosis.

• Improve physical factors affecting balance, risk of falls and injuries.

• Raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and how to maintain it through behavioral changes.

• Promote long-term maintenance of regular physical activity for osteoporosis prevention, by integrating certain exercises and healthy behavior into participants' daily routines.

The program

The technical content of the program is based on a literature review (including detailed descriptions of programs requested from various authors) and on MelCoaching's expertise and field experience. It has been divided into eight sessions of around 12 sessions, each with specific objectives and a standardized framework (combination and sequence of exercises).

The exercises aim to improve :

• Postural stability: e.g. body lengthening, maximum relaxation.

• Muscular extensibility and joint flexibility: e.g. stretching and various exercises for all muscle groups (flexors and extensors).

• Balance: e.g. knee bends, tandem position, walking backwards, sit-stand, eyes closed.

• Reaction time: e.g. group games with balls and small materials, fine motor skills.

• Coordination: e.g. Alternating swinging of upper and lower limbs. Dissociate upper and lower body movements, left and right brain at the same time.

• Muscular strength: e.g. exercises for hip abductors, knee extensors, ankle plantar flexion.

• Internal sense of spatial orientation: e.g. Sense of position and movement of limbs and trunk through martial arts practice. Kata and tai chi practice with differentiated rhythm and speed.

Home exercises to reinforce group sessions

Participants are also required to carry out home exercises to reinforce the group sessions and integrate balance training and physical activity into daily routines, to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Home exercises are selected from those performed with the group and adapted by the instructor to suit each participant's physical abilities.