HNF Brings ‘Movement is Medicine’ Summit to Florida

To promote the value of exercise in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation is bringing its latest summit to central Florida.

The free Movement is Medicine Summit Orlando will be held March 21 in Winter Park at the 80,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Center for Health and Wellbeing, a collaboration between the Winter Park Health Foundation and AdventHealth. Developed by and for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) patients, the summit will feature leaders in fitness, nutrition, and wellness in immersive sessions on exercise, diet, and lifestyle choices.

Organizers expect more than 100 attendees. Caregivers, children, and other family members are welcome.

“We are excited to host the Movement is Medicine program here in Orlando,” Nivedita Jerath, MD, medical director of neuromuscular medicine at the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute, said in a press release. “This program will demonstrate not only how much exercise is necessary in hereditary neuropathies, but also how much fun exercise can be by forming new friendships and creating positive energy that can be healing in every way.”

The Florida-based institute is said to treat more neuroscience patients, including those with CMT, than any other U.S. hospital. Its neurology division is an HNF Center of Excellence (COE). Located nationwide, COEs demonstrate excellence in patient care and research, and work with the HNF to expand their roles as local CMT hubs.

“The HNF has established itself as an organization in which individuals with hereditary neuropathies — also known as CMT — come first. Our division echoes this goal of patients coming first,” Jerath said.

The Movement is Medicine initiative promotes the safe adoption of a more active lifestyle through exercise and nutrition programs designed specifically for debilitating diseases such as CMT. HNF collaborates with therapy, rehabilitation, and other experts to conduct educational classes and workshops.

“HNF is thrilled to bring its groundbreaking Movement is Medicine program to Winter Park,” Allison Moore, founder and CEO of HNF, said. “Our patient-centered approach to the treatment of CMT disease is aligned with the terrific work that that Dr. Jerath and her team are doing at the AdventHealth Neuroscience Institute, and we couldn’t be more excited to be holding our event at the Center for Health and Wellbeing.”

CMT, which is estimated to affect about 2.6 million individuals worldwide, including one in 2,500 U.S. residents. The disorder causes damage to peripheral nerves, resulting in muscle weakness, balance problems, and reduced sensation in the extremities. A consistent, personalized exercise regimen can potentially delay disease progression, and help improve the confidence, fitness, and mobility of patients.

Go here to register for the AdventHealth-sponsored summit in Orlando. Charcot-Marie-Tooth News covered the summit last November in Phoenix, Arizona. The next Phoenix summit is slated for Nov. 13–14.

The nonprofit HNF works to increase awareness and accurate diagnoses of CMT and related inherited neuropathies. It also funds research and provides patients and families with information and resources.