Movement And Healing

A Cal State LA student teaching a community member how to use a swing for exercise.

Let's take a look at a portion of the programs at CAL STATE LA, specifically within the SCHOOL OF KINESIOLOGY AND NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE. The focus within the kinesiology portion is on human movement. Frequently, you see people who work within the field as leaders in development of exercise programs for the general public and reparative movement programs for people with injuries or illnesses that affect their ability to move. The latter generally involve strengthening muscles in the injured body parts or compensatory strengthening in other body areas to support those parts of the body that now have limited movement.

Now, Cal State LA has some outreach programs within the School of Kinesiology and Nutritional Science. One of these is the MOBILITY GYM, under the direction of Connie Wong, an educator within the department. Connie has always striven to impart to her students what serving others within this field means, "It must involve humane understanding, openness to being taught by whom we serve and compassionate communication through our hands, eyes, ears and words." Indeed, Ms. Wong's philosophy is a sound one for anyone working within the health care professions!


The place where Ms. Wong's philosophy comes into action is the Mobility Gym, which provides service learning opportunities for the students she teaches. Members of the public, who have special exercise needs (those with such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, diabetes, visual impairments, etc.), can enroll at the gym for a 10-week activity course. They receive one-on-one assistance from students enrolled in "Principles of Mobility Training", under the supervision of program faculty, in utilizing adaptive exercise equipment. In return, students learn about their clients, who have various physical limitations and illnesses, along with the specifics of working with the adaptive equipment. It's a real give-and-take, with both clients and students benefiting.

In addition, Connie Wong has also helped her students to engage with the general public, in the South Los Angeles area of the Figueroa Corridor. Connie, a physical therapist, was wanting to bring to this underserved area some of the basics of a healthier lifestyle and she brought her students, also. She reported, "Every Friday, our students traveled to where the promotores [community members with special training in health education] live and work to show them these concepts in their own environment. Together, we taught them how to use common household objects as exercise tools, and we demonstrated to them that fitness can happen anywhere."

This is just one program at one university, led by one instructor, bringing students to communities which need their services. There are more programs around that utilize expertise found within the university community for the greater good. Yes, faculty at colleges can be an inspiration.

A client being helped with adaptive exercises at the Mobility Gym.

Thanks to this article from Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/connie-wong-cal-state-university-los-angeles-los-angeles-ca/, and the above links, for the information.

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