MyBeFit@ZHAW – Training concept with exercise advice, assessment, and physical training

The community of people with rheumatic diseases faces the challenge of understanding and implementing international exercise recommendations. This requires a kind of everyday translation service, which can be provided by trained experts, such as therapists.

Rheumatic diseases, or “rheumatism” for short, are a heterogeneous group of chronic inflammatory diseases that affect the musculoskeletal system and are characterized by pain, inflammation, and functional disorders. These diseases can include autoimmune diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus) as well as degenerative or metabolic diseases (such as osteoarthritis, gout). Diseases such as rheumatism require a long-term strategy and treatment tailored to individual needs. People affected by rheumatism therefore benefit from education, counseling, and instruction so that they can manage their symptoms and complaints as effectively as possible in terms of their own health literacy, making their everyday lives easier.
The overall goal of the project is to implement and disseminate “MyBeFit” (assessment / counseling / exercise instruction) in Switzerland by establishing a service for the community at the ZHAW as part of the network in the Winterthur area. The service focuses on people with rheumatic diseases in the Winterthur area, providing them with individual counseling and thereby improving their access to targeted, evidence-based training.

Project objectives

Specific project objectives are:

1. Development of a concept for cooperation between teaching at the ZHAW and MyBeFit from the Bechterew's Disease Association (SVMB). Establishment and expansion of the existing SVMB-ZHAW cooperation.
2. Creating an offering for younger people with rheumatism in the Winterthur area in particular, which is compatible with everyday (working) life, as the main aim is to promote self-management and self-efficacy.
3. Creating a basis for networking between various specialists in the Winterthur area, e.g., rheumatologists, gynecologists, general practitioners, physiotherapists, midwives, and students.

Development of end products

The following end products are to be developed:

In a first step, a concept for the networked provision of location assessments, counseling, and contact points will be developed based on the existing SVMB-ZHAW cooperation, which will result in a training concept. In a next step, existing course-specific modules that are suitable for training as a MyBeFit coach for rheumatic diseases in Winterthur will be filtered out and individuals will be trained: assessments / counseling / instruction. The marketing of the offering will be promoted through various channels.

Planned results

• Developed MyBeFit@ZHAW concept; cooperation between ZHAW and SVMB
• Trained experts/PTs/HBs, etc. on site
• Ongoing offer – website/vertical (magazine)/advertising – visibility of the offer
• LinkedIn channel
• Evaluation of the impact of implementation to assess sustainability
• Network building through networking with local stakeholder groups in the Winterthur area and the Rheumatism League
• Short film as a pilot on experiences with MyBeFit from the perspective of those affected, trained individuals, and students.