Jerry and Geraldine Thomas, Lawrence, have been retired for two years now and enjoy their days walking together as they were in October 2011 along Massachusetts Street. by Kevin Anderson
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has teamed up with the Arthritis Foundation to offer a free walking program for Kansans.
The Walk with Ease program is a six-week, structured program that teaches participants how much they should walk, how to increase walking pace and endurance, and how physical activity can be a part of daily life.
“Arthritis is a chronic health condition that can be improved with exercise. Physical activity, with proper warm up and cool down, actually nourishes the cartilage between joints.”
— Dr. Robert Moser, KDHE secretary and state health officer
Walk with Ease offers training that includes:
• warning signs of exercising too hard.
• tips on when to increase the intensity of a workout.
ª stretching and strengthening exercises.
The program is available to anyone with or without arthritis and can be modified to meet individual needs, so each person can develop an exercise routine that fits his or her unique goals. Information and strategies taught in Walk with Ease are based on research and tested programs in exercise science and behavior change.
A group format of Walk with Ease is also available to individuals and organizations interested in hosting a walking class. A class meets three times a week for six weeks and is led by a certified instructor.
“Walking can help manage weight, which can reduce your risk for arthritis in the knees, heart disease and diabetes. Walking also helps reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis, increases balance and strength, improves overall health and increases participants’ confidence to be physically active.”
— Lisa Williams, KDHE arthritis program manager
For additional information on the program or to enroll, visit www.kdheks.gov/arthritis and click on "Walk on Ease Program" on the left-hand side of page or contact Misty Lechner, worksite wellness specialist at 296-1917 or mlechner@kdheks.gov.
Tagged: Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Arthritis Foundation, walking
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