Walk With Ease Offered In Jackson County

The ADRC of Jackson County and Jackson County Public Health are partnering with the Lunda Community Center to offer Walk With Ease starting Monday, September 11th, at the Lunda Community Center. Walk With Ease - a program from the Arthritis Foundation - is a structured walking program that teaches participants how to safely make physical activity a 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. The six-week group series is led by a certified instructor. During the program, participants learn proper stretching and pain management techniques; they also 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 Maggie Lass, Public Health Specialist with Jackson County Public Health. “Walking can also help with weight-management 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 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 is required. Classes will be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 10:30am - 11:30am, from September 11 through October 19. All classes will be held at the Lunda Community Center in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. This program is free for all participants. For more information, contact the ADRC of Jackson County at 715-284-3978. Before starting any exercise program, always check with your primary care provider.

The Arthritis Foundation Walk With Ease Program is one of several health education and self-management programs aimed at helping people take greater control of health and wellness. For a listing of programs in your community, contact the ADRC of Jackson County at 715-284-3978.