MONROE — Green County Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is offering Walk With Ease from May 16 to June 24. This will be offered as a Self-Directed workshop with guidance as needed from a trained leader. All needed materials will be mailed to participants. 

Walk With Ease is a program developed and certified by the Arthritis Foundation and 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 weeks of 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 Laura Steiner; ADRC’s Wellness & Prevention Specialist. “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 at least 10 minutes without increased pain for a minimum of three days per week, you will most likely have success with Walk With Ease.”  

The information and strategies included in the program are based on research and tested programs in exercise science, behavior change and arthritis management. 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.

There is zero cost to this program. Pre-registration is required. No living in-county restrictions. For more information, contact ADRC-Green County by phone at 608-328-9499 or by email at resourcecenter@gchsd.org. Before starting any exercise program, be sure to always check with a healthcare provider.