Conception and contents of the „Programmed Sports Therapy“ for haemophilic patients Conception and contents of the “Programmed Sports Therapy” for haemophilic patients Many epidemiological studies have confirmed the importance of physical activity in the prevention of different diseases. In recent years, haemophilic patients have been asked to actively participate in sports and to do regular physical activity. It is even regarded as a necessity in the adjuvant treatment of haemophilia. Thus far, however, the possibilities of sports therapy as an agent of primary to tertiary prevention in the treatment of haemophilic patients have hardly been employed. Although physical exercise in groups, two to three times per week, is also sensible for haemophilic patients, lengthy distances to the respective treatment centers impede this classical type of training. This problematic led to the development of the model “Programmed Sports Therapy”. The PST is a unique combination of group training, led by specialized sports therapists and medical doctors of sports medicine, and guided independent home training. Group training takes place in aggregate sport camps. Independent home training is reinforced by sports therapists and regulated by use of individualized training guidelines. The participants can contact the therapists via e-mail and phone. The contents of the PST are based on “The integrated model of joint function” by LEE & VLEEMING, with slight modifications. The model comprises the four Components: Emotion & Awareness, Motor Control, Active Component/Stability and Passive Component/Stability (see figure). On one hand, these components individually provide a direct therapeutic approach to the joint. On the other, they closely interact with each other. For patients with haemophilia, dysfunctions can occur in all components. The therapeutic contents of the PST can be classified as a three stage model. The first stage is the voluntary body awareness, the body scheme. The neutral joint control alignment by selective activation of local and global stabilizing muscles makes up the second stage. Considering the contents of the first two stages, the third focuses on the dynamic control of cyclical and acyclic movements, with and without external loads, in functional motion patterns. The aim of the third stage is to integrate the gained joint stability in activities of daily life. The key aspects of the therapy span over all three stages through the exercises and methods to increase body awareness, muscle tone regulation, joint mobilization and muscle activation. In addition to the aforementioned focal points, holistic therapeutic techniques such as Tai Chi and Progressive Muscle relaxation are also imparted and trained. The monitoring of training and exercises is performed during one of the semi-annual camps, by way of examinations (i.e. clinical tests, muscle function tests, questionnaires, sensorimotor tests, etc.) After the conclusion of the two-year HEP III project, comprised of seven sport camps and the exact documentation of training contents and bleeding frequency, the data showed that this type of therapy can be applied safely and without complications. Moreover, with appropriate training frequency, individual treatment is successful.