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 S.A.F.E.!*" 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 *S.A.F.E. = Skeletally Appropriate For Everyone This program is designed to promote better bone health for people with normal, osteopenic or osteoporotic bone.

SPECIALTY EXPERIENCE:

Since 1984 I have been specializing in the management 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 my entire career focusing on the physical therapy management of people with osteoporosis. In 1996-1997, I was the director of a physical therapy clinic in which every patient I saw was 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 through my contacts with peers in my seminars and also through a telephone and personal consultation practice.

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 S.A.F.E. 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 several State Chapter Meetings around the country.
• Levels 1-3 Seminars across the U.S., Canada and presentations in other countries around the world.
• 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 2003-2006.
• Presenter at APTACSM and/or APTA Annual Conference 2000-Present
• Presenter at the 4th-7th Annual Symposia on Osteoporosis (Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland) sponsored by Medi GmBH, designers, researchers and manufacturers of the Spinomed IV Spinal Orthosis for Osteoporosis—the only spinal orthosis shown in a peer-reviewed study to strengthen the body part it is designed to protect — namely, the back.

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
• Primary influences on my work include Robin McKenzie, Moshe Feldenkrais, Yoga, and John Barnes (Myofascial Release)

AWARD:

APTA Section on Geriatrics Award for Clinical Excellence 2001

FOUNDER:

Section on Geriatrics Special Interest Group on Osteoporosis.
(now known as the Special Interest Group on Bone Health)

AUTHOR:

• WALK TALL! A Program for the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis
• Osteoporosis Management and Postural Correction - Visual Health Information CD
• The Physical Therapy Management of BONE HEALTH A Clinician's Guide - The Meeks Method

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 and no medication. I travel internationally to demonstrate and spread the word that one can live a full life free from the fear of falls and fractures even with a diagnosis of osteoporosis.

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