2021 Fall
Vol.1 No.2

OPINION LETTER

WHETHER WORKING FROM HOME, BACK AT THE OFFICE OR AT SCHOOL, NEW KINESIOLOGY GUIDELINES CAN HELP CANADIANS MAINTAIN OPTIMAL HEALTH THROUGH THE PANDEMIC

The confinement restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly changed our lifestyles and as a result Canadians face many challenges. How we work, daily living, and physical activities all changed, and our capabilities and abilities to successfully accomplish these activities safely also changed. As we continue through the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions are gradually lifted, we need to consider how we can safely return to our more active previous lives to maintain optimal health. Being physically active is more important than ever as recent research suggests that not meeting physical activity guidelines on a regular basis may increase the risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes.

To help, the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance has created the MOVING FORWARD WITH COVID-19 -KINESIOLOGY GUIDELINES FOR MAINTAINING OPTIMAL HEALTH. These practical recommendations focus on six fields of practice: ergonomics, cardiorespiratory health, functional abilities, weight gain and obesity, safe return to sport, and cognitive capacities including mental health. With these recommendations, Kinesiologists want to help Canadians return to a more active lifestyle safely.

In this time of continued change, recovery and a safe return to work or school are paramount for all Canadians. Since prevention and rehabilitation done by Kinesiologists are key to keep Canadians active, healthy and productive, we can only hope that one day their support will be as universal as seeing your family doctor.

The CKA also longs for the day when prevention will be valued by governments as an investment and offer measures such as helping employers provide ergonomic support when employees are working from home or reducing financial barriers to active living.

Kinesiologists across Canada makes the following recommends to increase physical activity at work (home or office:

• Extend the fitness tax credit to adults: a non-refundable tax credit has been available for eligible fitness expenses paid to register a child in a prescribed program of physical activity – make it available for adults;
• Include fitness memberships and services as a medical cost on personal taxes: this medical tax deduction would help Canadians as more than 80 percent do not get the recommended 150-minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise weekly; 
• Eliminating sales taxes on kinesiology services, as they are solutions to many health conditions like any services by other healthcare providers;
• Provide incentive to Corporations that:
  • Create a worksite environment that promotes physical activity
  • Provide on-site gyms or other physical activity facilities
  • Allow flexible work time or breaks for participation in physical activity
  • Promote "active transport" (bicycling or walking to work), such as by offering bicycle storage
  • Provide showers and/or changing facilities

As human movement experts who can help Canadians through all phases of life, Kinesiologists can provide scientific advice and physical activity treatments that improve recovery, health and well-being. They can help workers set up workstations, recommend set-ups and provide the proper tools and training to minimize overuse injuries, and improve safety and productivity. They can also propose ways to become more active and break the sedentary state that many are experiencing because of the pandemic restrictions.

The CKA President

Kathie Sharkey, R.Kin

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THE CKA / ACK PRESENTS

KINESIOLOGIE GUIDELINES TO
OPTIMAL HEALTH WITH COVID-19

Returning to an active lifestyle after either having COVID-19 or being restricted from exercising can be challenging for some. The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA / ACK), in collaboration with practising Kinesiologists, has created guidelines to provide support for those undergoing recovery and/or resuming a regular healthy, active lifestyle. Kinesiologists are human movement experts who provide scientific advice and physical activity treatments that improve recovery, health and well-being, through all phases of life. The CKA / ACK wishes to raise awareness of kinesiology as a solution for long-haulers, seniors and others of all ages as they recover from the impact of COVID-19 on their health and well-being. These guidelines focus on six fields of practice: cognitive capacities, ergonomics, cardiorespiratory health, functional abilities, weight gain and obesity, and safe return to sport. It is meant to be used as key advice to Canadians and to clients of Kinesiologists and other health professionals.

The guidelines demonstrates how Canadians – with the help of Kinesiologists – can safely and effectively return to a healthy lifestyle. The practical advice can be used as restrictions are lifted and after the pandemic. The guidelines recognize the leadership of Kinesiologists nationally and provincially in finding solutions for health and well-being. Physical activity is a foundation for a healthy lifestyle as we all strive to move better and live better.

Insurance Benefit Plan Campaign
"Join the Movement"

As previously announced, the CKA and PKAs, in an initiative from the OKA, are running an Insurance Benefit Plan Campaign from Sept. to Dec. 2021. The campaign is being held in each province via the PKAs under the theme "The Kinesiology Movement!" The goal is to reach more than 1,000 insurance company claim managers and insurance advisors and corporate human resources managers across Canada.

We are getting results even in so little time. Major insurance companies are interested in knowing more about kinesiology. Talks with Greenshield, Co-Operators, Empire and Mercer are being held on an exploratory basis. These companies may join the existing list: Manulife, Desjardins, Sun Life, Blue Cross, IA, Claimsecure, SSQ and Great West (Canada Life).

The CKA and PKAs wish to increase meaningful initiatives targeting insurance companies and corporations to raise awareness of kinesiology services as insured treatments (reimbursable to clients). This initiative provides the opportunity for a CKA and/or PKA representative to inform this primary market of the advantages of including kinesiology services in their health benefit plans. We feel that a unified national campaign would multiply the promotional materials and help reach the target market with a bigger "buzz" or "push."

Given the often-national nature of the insurance and health benefits sector, a national campaign supported by province-specific elements will increase the impact of the program by ensuring a common message that is consistently branded.

Some activities include snail mail mailing, targeted email mailing, webinar or in-person presentations of "How to Use Your Kinesiology Benefit," visits with insurance and corporate HR representatives, social media campaign posts and shares, and follow-up calls to insurance and corporate HR representatives.

The goal? To help clients of Kinesiologists get kinesiology services reimbursed by major insurance companies.

Can Kinesiology Services be Reimbursed by Insurance?

Kinesiologists are key members of health care teams. Insurance Companies are recognising the status of Kinesiologists in some provinces. One must request to add Kinesiology to your employer's extended benefits package.

For extended health benefit packages, Kinesiologists provide wellness, disease and injury prevention, and rehabilitation, all in one professional. As part of extended health benefits, kinesiology services can reduce disability claims, getting workers back on the job faster, avoiding expensive long-term disability claims. With the growing body of evidence of the critical importance that exercise and physical activity plays in the prevention and management of chronic disease and injury, Kinesiologists are becoming key members of health care teams.

Kinesiologists have the skills to treat many of the most common conditions workers face – keeping your team happier, healthier and more productive.

A growing body of evidence points to the direct link between physical health and workplace performance. Healthier employees come to work more often, take fewer sick days, work more effectively and file fewer WSIB claims. Promoting good physical health through preventative exercise keeps your team working hard day in and day out. By adding Kinesiology to your extended benefits package, you can help your team work healthier, happier and harder.

In some province, the following Insurance companies offer certain policies covering kinesiology expenses (to date) :

Ask your insurance company if the kinesiology fees are refunded. If they are not, request documentation and template  letter for client, letter for employer to give to your employer and / or your insurance company to apply for inclusion of kinesiology services in your insurance plan.

2021
NATIONAL KINESIOLOGY WEEK
Forward with COVID-19
November 22 to 28, 2021 

Kins, get ready to participate!

This year, it's all about the new 2021 COVID guidelines.

The confinement restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic have significantly changed our lifestyles in terms of reduced daily active living and exercise. Canadians face many challenges as a result of the impact of COVID-19: working from home in settings with poor ergonomics; dealing with the effects of increased stress and anxiety on cognitive well-being and mental health; losing the ability to perform regular daily tasks; gaining weight from the inability to exercise or play sports while being more sedentary.

The 2021 National Kinesiology Week will promote the new CKA Post-COVID-19 Kinesiology Guidelines.

The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA / ACK), in collaboration with practising Kinesiologists, has created guidelines to provide support for those undergoing recovery or resuming a regular healthy, active lifestyle. Kinesiologists are human movement experts who provide scientific advice and physical activity treatments that improve recovery, health and well-being, through all phases of life.

The CKA / ACK wishes to raise awareness of kinesiology as a solution for long-haulers, seniors and others of all ages as they recover from the impact of COVID-19 on their health and well-being.

During the 2021 National Kinesiology Week, all Kinesiologists in Canada will be tasked with promoting these guidelines, launched in September to coincide with the return to normal life across the country.

See how you, Kinesiologists, can be involved in the public activities – and those for Kinesiologists – by visiting www.nationalkinesiologyweek.ca. Be ready for November!

Kinesiologists have started thinking about how they will promote, participate in or organize activities in their community. In preparation for the 2021 National Kinesiology Week, presented by Hexfit, the Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA) reminds everyone to reserve the dates of November 22-28 in their calendars.

A new marketing tool kit will be provided to help you reach health professionals and the general public: new videos will show, and demystify, what a Kin can do for each of these groups. The event also promotes the importance of using a Kinesiologist in one's pursuit of an active lifestyle. 

Stay tuned! 

Last year, KinWeek reached 84 million people in support of Mental Health Awareness. We believe the CKA offers Kinesiologists a great opportunity to reach clients. 

The 2021 National Kinesiology Week, presented by Hexfit, is in support of COVID-19 recovery and in collaboration with nine provincial associations: BCAK, AKA, MKA, OKA, FKQ, NBKA, NLKA, KANS and KPEI.

Consult the full guidelines.

   Visit nationalkinesiologyweek.ca.    

Fall into Fitness

By Catarina Martins 

As the long warm days of summer come to an end, and we round the corner to Fall, many of us may find ourselves returning to familiar routines or starting new ones. This Fall, take advantage of new beginnings by establishing new and fresh physical activity goals or by refreshing old ones. Whether returning to an existing fitness routine, or looking to establish a new one, the first step is to develop a SMART plan. This begins by setting a reasonable goal for your physical activity which is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound.

   Read More   

Mindfulness as a Means to Keep Moving

By Nolan Turnbull, Kinesiologist 

The unpredictable nature of the pandemic has made taking time for oneself and maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours such as physical activity more difficult than ever. Mindfulness is a simple practice that anyone can use to help address stress and uncertainty, and to achieve lifestyle and physical activity related goals.

  Read More   

Physical Activity Joint Statement
CKA - ParticipACTION - Active for Life - EIMC - PHE Canada - CSEP

The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance has joined kinesiology-related stakeholders in creating a physical activity statement to be released in the fall. This idea originated from a National Health and Fitness Day group who invited stakeholders such as the CKA, ParticipAction, Active for Life, EIMC, PHE Canada and CSEP.

The goal is to develop and release a joint statement on the importance and safety of physical activity during the pandemic. Ideally, it will be published in a relevant peer-reviewed journal, and it will also contain a consensus statement summary that organizations and individuals can promote through their own networks, including (1) a one-page summary statement with a short commentary from the respective organization and links to their own resources that are relevant to the statement, (2) a link to the complete joint statement on the host website and (3) a link to the future publication of the joint statement in a peer-reviewed journal.

The statement will be adapted to share with various stakeholders (e.g., general public, policy, health, education).

The CKA is proud to be an active leader promoting movement through kinesiology across the country. The CKA works with a broad group of stakeholders that include industry, government and other health professional associations as it fulfills its mission to promote and develop kinesiology, and to unify and harmonize the governance and standards for kinesiology within Canada.