About Sara Meeks

I HAVE A DREAM!

"I have a dream that someday every person, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, lifestyle or any other factor, who has the condition of low bone mass (osteopenia) and/or skeletal fragility (osteoporosis,) will be able to enter a physical therapy practice, gym, fitness center, senior exercise class or any other facility or class where movement is being taught, and that person will be given a program that is #1 SAFE! " This is not the case today. If you take any of my seminars, you will find out why and, as you learn new principles of movement and exercise designed for skeletal health and safety, you can help me fulfill my dream. You, too, can become a dreamer. Read on and learn more about my background and why I have this dream and sense of mission in my life." Sincerely Yours In Good Bone Health

SPECIALTY EXPERIENCE:

I have spent over 23 years specializing in the unique management challenges of persons with osteoporosis and osteopenia. Since seeing my first patient with KNOWN osteoporosis and an acute compression fracture in 1984 and developing a successful program for that patient with no clinical pathway or treatment protocol on which to rely, I have spent nearly my entire career focusing on the physical therapy management of persons with osteoporosis. In 1996-1997, I was the director of a physical therapy clinic in which EVERY PATIENT I saw was pre-diagnosed with the conditions of osteopenia and/or osteoporosis. Osteopenia and osteoporosis were the PRIMARY diagnoses of my patient population. These patients also had many other conditions commonly seen in a physical therapy population; however, they were seeing me because of my program for osteoporosis. Focusing on the condition in this way allowed me to learn more about the condition than I would ever have had an opportunity otherwise. It was during this time that I further developed and refined my comprehensive management program (The Meeks Method.)

In clinical practice until late 2005, I continued to learn through my patients, my peers, and the research literature and am still doing so.

I bring to my seminars this extensive experience and know that, although I have had a rather unique opportunity to learn about this devastating, epidemic and life-threatening condition, I still think that I know very little of what there is to know and am always learning. My intention in my seminars is to provide YOU with an opportunity to learn also and then, as you take this program into your own treatment setting, you can help me spread the word on SAFE and therapeutic movement for persons with osteoporosis.

PAST AND FUTURE SEMINAR AND SPEAKING LOCATIONS:

• Level 1 Seminar: APTA Annual Conference, Orlando 1998 and CSM, San Antonio 2001 and at State Chapter Meetings: Mississippi, Montana, Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Scheduled for Tri-state (Idaho, Montana and Wyoming) conference Big Sky, Montana September 2006 and Minnesota State Conference Spring 2007. Many other locations around the country.
• Key note speaker at the International Private Practitioner Association of the World Congress of Physical Therapy, Melbourne, Australia, October 2005
• Co-presenter with Sherri Betz, PT at the Pilates Method Alliance (PMA) annual meeting in 2003 and 2004 and will be teaching a pre-conference course, SAFE Pilates for Better Bones, at the PMA annual meeting in Palm Springs November 2, 2006.
• Presenter at CSM and/or APTA Annual Conference 2000-2005
• Scheduled to present SAFE Yoga for Skeletal Health for Special Interest Group on Osteoporosis CSM Boston 2007

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor of Science, cum Laude, in Physical Therapy Ithaca College, 1962
• Master of Science Physical Therapy, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions 2000
• APTA certified Geriatric Clinical Specialist 1994; re-certified 2004
• Certified Kripalu Yoga Instructor 1984

AWARD:

APTA Section on Geriatrics Award for Clinical Excellence 2001

FOUNDER:

Section on Geriatrics Special Interest Group on Osteoporosis.

AUTHOR:

• WALK TALL! A Program for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis Management and Postural Correction: Visual Health Information CD

CONSULTANT:

STAND TALL! Every Woman's Guide to the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis by Morris Notelovitz, MD.

PERSONAL:

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 2005. This diagnosis, which came as quite a surprise to me, has caused me to strengthen my mission of bringing safety in movement into all populations. This knowledge has profoundly changed my life, my view of my own aging, and has increased my compassion for people faced with tough decisions regarding management of osteoporosis in an environment of scarce and often conflicting information.

I continue to live a full life including regular exercise, with special attention to nutrition and body mechanics, as I deal with this diagnosis.

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