In this episode of The FOX Five, we welcome back Kate Bruno, OTD, OTR/L, CAPS, CDP, Clinical Director of Wellness at FOX Rehabilitation, for a discussion of the many things a fitness specialist can do with FOX. From leading engaging group fitness classes and delivering one‑on‑one and partner training, to supporting health and wellness events and collaborating with clinicians for seamless continuity of care, Kate breaks down how fitness specialists play a vital role in keeping older adults active, strong, and connected. It’s an exciting look at how FOX Wellness supports lifelong movement and meaningful outcomes.

Jim: Welcome to The FOX Five, the show that explores the wonderful world of FOX Rehabilitation through an originalist created by a FOX colleague. We welcome back to The FOX Five, FOX Rehabilitation Clinical Director of Wellness and Occupational Therapist, Kate Bruno. Welcome back.

Kate: Thank you for having me back.

Jim: Yeah, on your last episode I foreshadowed that you might be coming back if you were a person of your word. Proof right here today. Kate Bruno honors her word.

Kate: I do.

Jim: You're a person that can be trusted.

Kate: You got it.

Jim: All right, Kate, this time around, what is your FOX Five?

Kate: My FOX Five is Five Things a Fitness Specialist Can Do with FOX.

Jim: So, you if you are a Fitness Specialist with FOX Rehabilitation and you're like, "What do I do?" Well, hopefully you know that before you become a fitness specialist, but here are the five things you can do with FOX Wellness and with FOX Rehabilitation. Kate, what is Number One on your list?

Kate: Number One is instructing group fitness classes. This is a really cool opportunity to engage with people in a senior living community. We do these in senior living communities where we partner with that organization, and they can be a variety of things: balance, strength, yoga, aquatics. You can see there's a variety across the gamut. This is a really cool opportunity to work with different individuals, support their fitness levels, and just really get them up and moving.

Jim: Yeah, Kate, I have been to these fitness classes and they're so awesome! They get people bought into fitness and wellness and exercise. I was at the one and there was a 99year-old lady and she was the one responsible for bringing everyone to the fitness class.

Kate: Yep. They are so fun. I've covered them as an occupational therapist and former regional director and I have a blast just interacting with people. They love it. They tell great stories and, you know, they poke a little fun if you work them too hard, but it's such a cool thing to be able to do as clinicians and fitness specialists.

Jim: It's also a great way to sell our FOX Wellness program because afterwards, the participants will come up and they're like, "I love exercising with you. Can we have one-on-one sessions?"

Kate: You got it.

Jim: Kate, what is Number Two on your FOX Five?

Kate: So, you led perfectly into that.

Jim: Did I spoil it for you?

Kate: Nope. You didn’t. Number Two is personal training one-on-one sessions. This is the bread and butter of the Wellness program. So, we have our group fitness classes, but these are opportunities where you get to work with an individual one-on-one supporting their wellness and fitness goals, improving their strength, and making sure that they can do the things that they really want to do in life, whatever that is, because it's so different for every person. This way, we can keep them up strong, moving, and make sure that we're supporting that.

Jim: Great one, and that will bring us to Number Three on your FOX Five.

Kate: Number Three is partner training. This is kind of a an alternate to one-on-one training. It's training that is done with a fitness specialist where an individual wants to exercise with a partner, a spouse, a friend, a relative, and it's also a great opportunity at a lower price point to engage with our Wellness initiative. This is something where you have that accountability, exercise together, enjoy it a little bit more, have a little fun.

Jim: I believe in the greater world, we call this “body doubling.” The thought behind that is if you are exercising with someone else, it will push you to actually work out instead of sitting on your keester doing nothing.

Kate: You got it.

Jim: Kate, that brings us to Number Four on your FOX Five.

Kate: Yes, Number Four is health and wellness events. This can include resident talks about health and strength and making sure that you're maintaining activity or it can be marketing events with our senior living partners, but it's a cool opportunity to step outside of the fitness world and make sure that we're supporting health across the lifespan.

Jim: I don't know if this would encourage someone to be a fitness specialist. You should do it because you love it, but all the fitness specialists that I've encountered are almost like rock stars in their senior living community. People love them. They love their personality. So, if you want to become a rock star, become a FOX Fitness specialist!

Kate: Yes, you will be recognized throughout the community. You'll have a ton of friends. They'll all know who you are.

Jim: And Kate, that brings us to Number Five on your FOX Five.

Kate: So, Number Five is collaborating with clinicians to ensure optimal discharge planning. This is incredibly important, knowing that from a clinical standpoint, we give a home exercise program or home activity program and we don't always see compliance with it, but by working with clinicians, making sure that we're coordinating, we can transition somebody over to a FOX Wellness program, whether it be one-on-one personal sessions, partner training, or just getting them involved in the group fitness classes to maintain the gains made throughout a skilled plan of care, and just keep an eye on them. We can make sure that we're not seeing a functional decline and making sure that we're addressing any concerns that we have.

Jim: Kate, thank you not only this FOX Five, but the FOX Five you previously did with us.

Kate: No problem. Thanks for having me.