Kinaesthetics: "People learn to pay attention to their own body motions"

Ms. Sieben, what is the foundation for the basic concept of Kinaesthetics?

Sabine Sieben: Kinaesthetics is a training system based on the study of human body motion. It is rooted in the understanding that the way in which human beings move in their everyday activities influences their health processes in a positive or negative manner.

Kinaesthetics is a creation of Dr. Frank Hatch and Dr. Lenny Maietta. This is why it is also called Maietta-Hatch (MH) Kinaesthetics. During the past 30 years, they have further developed the teaching structures and the contents of Kinaesthetics and provide programs in various areas with the support of experts in the field.

What advantages do kinesthetic methods offer for in-home care?

Sieben: People learn to pay attention to their own body motions, meaning they observe themselves and their movements and make adjustments. This is the basis for designing the activities of physically disabled persons in a simpler, more effective and thereby health-promoting manner. Armed with this basic understanding, nursing staff and caregiving family members are able to utilize and effectively support physiological movements.

On Saturday, you will conduct a workshop on "Promoting Physical Activity, Mobility Aids, Self Transfer or External Transfer from a Kinesthetic Perspective" at the REHACARE. Whom does the Workshop address and what can visitors expect?

Sieben: The Workshop addresses persons who professionally or privately support persons with physical disabilities. What’s more, it is directed at people who themselves are impaired in their mobility due to injuries, illness, disability and other factors. It also takes into account that the effects of physical disabilities vary greatly from person to person. Participants learn to understand and apply the concepts of movement of the human body and anatomy during the MH-Kinaesthetics education program. The goal is to positively influence the quality of their everyday activities.

What does inclusion mean to you?

Sieben: In every phase of life, there should be opportunities for physically but also mentally and cognitively impaired persons to participate in everyday and work life in an unrestricted manner. Unfortunately, the general conditions and frequently also the local conditions are often insufficient for persons who rely on auxiliary means to be able to use the existing infrastructures without any difficulties.

In addition, our achievement-oriented society repeatedly doesn’t have enough room for persons with disabilities. There is a call for action in many areas. Severely disabled persons should also be able to live a life that is based on equality and self-determination. The basis for this is the creation of barrier-free structures.