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Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease
Program
Take Control, One Step at a Time...
No matter if you need relief from arthritis pain or
just want to be active to prevent arthritis; the newly updated Arthritis
Foundation Walk With Ease Program can teach you how to safely make physical
activity part of your everyday life. Walk With Ease offers support, information
and tools to help you succeed.
The program was developed following the theme of
“EASE” (Encourage Arthritis Support and Education).
Groups can provide social support, motivation, reinforcement, and assistance
with problem solving to help members become and stay active in an exercise
program. Group leaders can also be role models for how to exercise properly and
how to find resources to continue a healthy lifestyle.
The Program was designed with two formats in mind.
People can either participate with a group of walkers coordinated by a Walk With
Ease leader or they can read the workbook and do program activities on their
own. Either way, Walk With Ease is set up as a structured six-week program for
walking. Walking is the central activity. Research shows that people with
arthritis gain benefits if they walk at least three times a week, so that’s why
we urge participants be active three times a week for a total of 18 sessions.
Goal setting includes planning for maintaining participation in the group with
each future session or weekly participation to continue their individual goal
setting.
Click
HERE to Register
Each session is based on:
• a pre-walk discussion about related topics on arthritis, exercise, or walking
safely and comfortably, as well as motivational strategies and group sharing
• followed by warm-up exercises
• then a walk of 10 to 30 minutes
• then a cool-down
• followed by closing remarks
Depending on the physical capabilities of your
group, the average session length may last as little as 45 minutes in the
beginning weeks of the program but may increase to more than an hour as your
group improves their fitness level over the succeeding weeks. Sessions will
average about one hour.
The idea is to start at a reasonable amount of time and at a reasonable pace for
group members at each session and then build up to 30 minutes or more of
walking.
Health Education Information
All participants should receive the Walk With Ease workbook. Previous Walk With
Ease leaders and participants have told us that information about arthritis,
arthritis and exercise, and pain management is very important. So the workbook
provides much basic information on:
• osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia
• managing pain and stiffness
• tips on proper clothing and equipment
• monitoring for physical problems
• what to do when exercise hurts
• how to anticipate and overcome barriers to being physically active.
The workbook chapters are organized in a
logical sequence of first getting ready for walking, then beginning walking, and
finally staying motivated and sticking with walking.
Click
HERE to Register
The Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease 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 regular habit. Individuals
can use the Walk With Ease workbook to do the program on their own or can join
others in a six-week group series led by Donna Dixon, R.N./R.C.E.P., certified
leader. Shown to reduce pain and increase balance and walking pace, Walk With
Ease provides participants with the information and tools they need to develop a
safe exercise routine that fits their unique needs and goals.
Arthritis in its many forms from osteoarthritis to fibromyalgia is considered
gateway for chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and
obesity. The debilitating discomfort and the medications needed to manage
exasperations increases inactivity and depression. Walk With Ease is a
structured walking program that offers support, information and tools to help
participants develop successful exercise routines.
For a Well Worksite and Community
Ideal for worksite, school or church based groups. Walk With Ease
programming is an excellent cost effective tool for community health and
wellness. The design makes it easy to implement and manage. Training can be
provided to groups of ten or more or can be done on line. Progress records,
walking diaries, and how to keep your program going are provided. The valuable
workbook is low in cost but provides valuable information to help the individual
develop a fitness program that works for them.
Community Walk With Ease Leaders are needed in Blount County to combat our
community’s high level of high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease. The
overall value is community participation.
For more information about classes in Blount County call Donna Dixon at
865-803-8887. To learn more about becoming a community volunteer contact
Katie Maruskin Program Coordinator, Tennessee Arthritis Foundation, Southeast
Region, Inc. 615.254.6795 x109 or email at
kmaruskin@arthritis.org.
Click
HERE to Register
The Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program will be offered starting April
2, 2012 at Everett Recreation Center Room 205 318 Everett High Rd, Maryville, TN
at 11:45 AM with walks starting at noon. And will meet on Mondays and Wednesday
for six weeks. An Open House for more information is being held Monday March 26
from 10:00-11:00 at the Recreation 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.
Click
HERE to Register
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