AAOS provides tools for safe play, learning enjoyment

Read more about AAOS playgrounds

On Tuesday, March 9—the first day of the 2010 Annual Meeting in New Orleans—the AAOS’ first Family Fitness and Fun Park build will take place. The Family Fitness and Fun Park will provide children, parents and grandparents the opportunity for physical activity together and will feature balance, flexibility, and strength equipment, as well as a walking/running track for aerobic exercise.

The various activities of the park will help reduce and prevent falls, build strong bones, and give those recovering from joint replacement a safe place to exercise. The different stations will include exercise instructions, educational information, and injury prevention tips.

In the middle of the Family Fitness and Fun Park will be a safe, accessible playground where 5- to 12-year olds, with and without disabilities, can play safely together. This is truly a place where all generations can get fit and have fun together.

Buses will run between the build site and the Ernest Morial Convention Center, and music, breakfast, and lunch will be provided. No experience is necessary to help; seasoned project managers will be on-site to oversee the build. You can spend just a couple hours or the entire day at the build with fellow orthopaedic surgeons, representatives from allied health organizations and the orthopaedic industry, and community volunteers.

Annual Meeting attendees will receive a ribbon for their meeting badge at the playground build site. All volunteers will receive detailed information prior to the event. To sign up, visit www.aaos.org/fitnessbuild, or contact the Public Relations Department at (847) 384-4036 or publicrelations@aaos.org

Meet Boney Ben and Muscle Molly
Even before the fitness park build, however, you can engage youngsters in learning about bones and muscles by introducing them to Boney Ben and Muscle Molly. These educational and engaging posters and postcards were created with the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) to educate patients and young children about their bones and muscles. Speaking at an elementary school about orthopaedics? Bring these along for the students!

Boney Ben and Muscle Molly help facilitate communication with patients by making it easier for children to show where the pain is, and for you to discuss their injuries. Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons have used these posters in their offices as have children’s hospitals. They’ve found that Ben and Molly are a huge hit with young patients and parents alike!

Boney Ben and Muscle Molly are available at no charge from the AAOS as 6-inch-by-8-inch postcards (packs of 25 each), or as single 18-inch-by-24-inch posters. To order a supply for your office, contact the AAOS Public Relations Department at (847) 384-4036 or publicrelations@aaos.org

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