Walking Program for People with Arthritis, September 10, 2013
The Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program will be offered in Jefferson County starting Tuesday, September 10th at the Field of Dreams Activity Center.Walk With Ease is a structured walking program that teaches participants how to safely make physical activity part of their everyday life. The program is designed to help people living with arthritis better manage their pain and is also ideal for people without arthritis who want to make walking a daily habit.
Walk With Ease offers support, information and tools to help participants develop successful exercise routines. During the six-week program, participants will learn proper stretching and pain management techniques, as well as build stamina and walking pace. The program can even be modified to meet the needs of individual participants so that each person can develop an exercise routine that fits their unique goals.
“Research shows that walking is not only good for joints, but also helps improve the health of the heart, lungs and bones,” said Katie Christian of the Southeast Region Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. “Walking can also help manage weight which can reduce one’s risk for arthritis in the knee, heart disease and diabetes. If you can be on your feet for 10 minutes without increased pain, you will most likely have success with Walk With Ease.”
The information and strategies taught in the Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program are based on research and tested programs in exercise science, behavior change and arthritis management. Updated and evaluated by the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and the Institute on Aging of the University of North Carolina, Walk With Ease is shown to increase balance, strength and walking pace, as well as reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis. The program is also shown to build participant confidence to be physically active and improve overall health.
Pre-registration for the Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program is necessary. The program will meet twice a week for eight weeks from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at the Field of Dreams Activity Center in Dandridge on the following days: September 10, 13, 17, 19, 24, 26 and October 1, 3, 9, 11, 15, 17, 22, 25, 29, 31. For more information or to sign up, contact Melissa LaGraff at the UT Extension-Jefferson County Office- (865)397-2969/3969 or mrector@utk.edu. Before starting any exercise program, always check with your physician.
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