AAOS launches a World Wide Web exercise application on Facebook.com

Are you one of the more than 110 million people who visit the Facebook Web site every week? If you’re not, you probably know someone who does…think young, hip, and connected. Social networking through Web sites like Facebook.com is increasingly popular, enabling Web-savvy users to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

To reach this new social audience, the AAOS Public Relations Oversight Group and public relations department have created an exercise application called “Get Up! Get Out! Get Moving! Let’s Exercise!” The application is a mini Web site inside Facebook that enables Facebook members to take the following actions:

• Set fitness goals (thus promoting weight-bearing exercises)
• Track those goals
• Join teams that can also set and track fitness goals
• Challenge friends on Facebook to meet and/or beat personal or team goals
• Compete to earn points with people from around the globe

The whole point of the game is to get players healthy, strengthen bones, and encourage participation in the game of life! Talk to your patients about this new opportunity—and take advantage of it yourself. You don’t have to be particularly computer literate to enjoy this application.

If you, your family, friends, peers, colleagues, or patients have a Facebook account, search for

“exercise,” then click on the Applications tab, to view the AAOS application. Click on the icon, and follow the directions to upload the application to your Facebook profile. Now you’re ready to start inviting your friends to join you in setting goals and earning points.

In addition to the exercise game, the AAOS application also provides “healthy bones” tips. Here, the cartoon family of “Boneses” delivers age-appropriate advice on diet, exercise, and injury prevention.

Try out both programs—the exercise game and the fitness tips—and encourage your staff, patients, friends, and family to sign on as well. Help spread the message about exercise and strong bones around the world and get your patients to Get Up! Get Out! Get Moving! And get back in the game of life!

Save the date and volunteer
Join hundreds of orthopaedic surgeons, nurses, industry partners, state and specialty society representatives, and Las Vegas community members on Tuesday, Feb. 24

—the day before the Annual Meeting begins—to build a safe, accessible playground for children with and without disabilities.

Fly in one day early for the 76th Annual Meeting. It takes just that one day to build a 4,000+ square foot playground. You will help leave a legacy to the host city that will be remembered long after the Annual Meeting concludes.

The day begins at 7 a.m. and ends at approximately 3:30 p.m. Buses will run between the Sand’s Expo Center and the playground site from 6:30 a.m. until 4 p.m., and lunch will be provided at the location. No experience is necessary to help; seasoned project managers will be onsite to oversee the build. Whether you spend just an hour or two or the entire day, you will long remember the great time and the joyful faces of the neighborhood children.

Add your name to the volunteer roster by calling Pat Julitz (847) 384-4036 or e-mailing julitz@aaos.org

All volunteers will receive detailed information prior to the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

Addy Kujawa is public relations manager in the AAOS public relations department. She can be reached at kujawa@aaos.org