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New program pairs shelter dogs with...

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Santa Barbara County District Attorneys' Office employees will have the opportunity to exercise with a friend thanks to a new partnership with the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society.

The 'DA Dogs' program pairs well-mannered, adoptable dogs with employees at the DA's office who want to walk or run with the dogs during their lunch break.

Well-mannered, adoptable dogs are being paired with SB County District Attorney's Office employees. (Amanda Valdes/KCOY)

The attorneys and staffers at the DA's officein Santa Maria will run, walk and play with the dogs before they are returned to the shelter where they are available for adoption.

The first-of-its-kind program encourages people and pets to exercise together while promoting pet adoption.

The district attorney's office has many animal lovers and Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley said she wanted to do something to encourage the adoption of homeless pets.

Well-mannered, adoptable dogs are being paired with SB County District Attorney's Office employees. (Amanda Valdes/KCOY)

Each running partner pup wears a vest with the words "Adopt Me" printed prominently for all to see.

Shelter officials say the new experiences help the dogs become more comfortable outside of the shelter which helps them better acclimate with their new homes once adopted.

The high energy employees at the DA's office offer a service that allows dogs to get exercise that they might not always get due to limited staff at the shelter.

The Santa Maria Valley Humane Society said that additional programs are in the works with the DA's office and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

All of the animals who participate in the 'DA Dogs' program are available for adoption at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society at 1687 West Stowell Road. Adoptable pets can be viewed online.

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New program pairs shelter dogs with workout buddies at District ... - KEYT

Rowan College at Burlington County in partnership with Virtua, will be offering an associate degree program in Exercise Science Health and Wellness Promotion that will provide a seamless transfer to Rowan University and access to growing field of personal fitness.

As people live longer lives and desire to remain healthy through programs of personal fitness, weve seen a growing demand for athletic trainers and health educators, said Al Campanella, Executive Vice President for Virtua. Students who complete their associate and bachelors degrees in this field will be well prepared for a career in state-of-the-art fitness centers, similar to Virtuas three Health and Wellness centers in southern New Jersey.

This is a great way for students to enter a field that is growing and of interest to many of us who want long, healthy and fulfilling lives, said RCBC Dean of Health Sciences Karen Montalto. Our goal through the Virtua partnership is to ensure our programs are aligned with the healthcare needs of today and tomorrow and this career path certainly meets that objective.

Health Sciences jobs are among the fastest growing in the country. The projected growth between 2014 and 2024 is 21 percent for athletic trainers and 13 percent for health educators. These careers also carry very competitive salaries. Median pay is $44,670 for athletic trainers, $47,010 for exercise physiologists and $43,840 for health educators and community health workers.

Students who take this track can earn their bachelors degree from Rowan University to enter a high-growth, high-pay field, RCBC President Paul Drayton said. This is a great example of the Classroom to Career opportunities RCBC students have because of our partnerships with Rowan University and Virtua.

This program will cover nutritional requirements for consumers that promote health and wellness, explore the relationship of exercise science with health and wellness, and serve as the essential first step for the student who wishes to continue in this field.

Exercise Science is one of four new fall 2017 programs coming to RCBC, a top-ranked and growing community college.

The new programs, which also include Geoscience, Healthcare Informatics and Health Sciences, create affordable pathways into rewarding careers that have a growing demand for new professionals.

For more information and to register go to rcbc.edu/exercise-science

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Rowan College at Burlington County, Virtua announce new career path in exercise, wellness - Burlington County Times

As Georgias top public health official, Brenda Fitzgeraldled the fight against childhood obesity in a state with one of the highest rates in the country.The program there, funded in part by the Coca-Cola Foundation, emphasizes exercise and makes little mention of the problems with sugary soft drinks putting the effort at odds with research and the positions of many experts.

Now that Fitzgerald is director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the countrys top public health official some public health advocates are concerned that she could incorporate Georgia's approach into the national battle against obesity.

We hope Dr. Fitzgerald, as head of CDC, avoids partnering with Coke on obesity for the same reason she would avoid partnering with the tobacco industry on lung cancer prevention, said Jim OHara, director of health promotion policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Public health advocates and researchers have characterized Coca-Colas strategy as deflecting public attentionfrom the links between sugary drinks and a host of health problems, including obesity, diabetes and heart disease, by focusing on exercise and offering grants to buy friends and silence potential critics, OHara said.

To be sure, exercise and physical activity are beneficial for a broad range of health conditions.

Im totally for physical activity programs, said Marion Nestle, a nutrition professor at New York University. Unfortunately, they dont do much for obesity. It takes a lot of activity to compensate for excess calories.

Fitzgerald, who is a physician, was named director of the Atlanta-based CDC last Friday. Agency officials said she was not available for interviews this week. Cokes funding of the Georgia program was first reported in the Intercept.

She began serving on Georgia's newly created advisory council on childhood obesity after becoming commissioner of the state's public health department in 2011. The council is a public-private partnership with members from government, academia, philanthropy and business, and in the past, its members have included two executives from the Coca-Cola company.

The council's program, Georgia SHAPE, launched in 2012. The state ranked second in the nation for childhood obesity that year. It currently ranks 17th, according to the Trust for America's Health's 2016 obesity report.

Since its start, Georgia's special initiative has received more than $57 million to fight childhood obesity through promotion of nutritious foods and physical activity, according to a state public health department spokeswoman.

The spokeswoman said funding sources include federal grants, in-kind services and private grants and sponsorships from Georgia businesses and organizations such as the Coca-Cola Foundation, Royal Foods, Centene/Peach State, and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. A spokesman for Coca-Cola said the foundation has provided $1 million in grants.

Theprogram encourages elementary schools to add 30 additional minutes of daily exercise. In an April 2013 column stillfeatured on Coca-Colas website, Solving Childhood Obesity Requires Movement, Fitzgerald said youngsters needed to move more. Were not talking about trying out for the football team or preparing for the Olympic Games, she wrote. Were talking about walking a mile and touching your toes.

Her only reference to food or beverages was an exhortation for children to eat five or more fruits and vegetables a day.

On Wednesday, CDC spokeswoman Kathy Harben noted in a statement that the Georgia Shape partnership work includes promotion of both physical activity and better nutrition. She continued:At CDC, as at the Georgia Department of Public Health, Dr. Fitzgerald recognizes that public-private partnerships can be powerful tools that help extend public healths reach and ability to save lives, solve problems and speed innovation.

As to whether Georgia's approach, with Coca-Cola's involvement, is one that Fitzgerald might model at the CDC, the statement said: CDC has a focus on scientific integrity and a deep commitment to ethical, innovative partnerships that advance the agencys lifesaving mission.

CDC's website on obesity emphasizes physical activity as well as a healthy diet, including following dietary guidelines to limit eating foods and beverages with added sugars.

Ben Sheidler, a spokesman for Coca-Cola, said the company's position on obesity has shifted in recent years to address sugar consumption specifically. Coke supports the World Health Organization's recommendation that people limit their intake of added sugars to no more than 10 percent of their total daily calorie intake, he said. That's why it now offers smaller-sized drinks and is making more low- and no-sugar drinks available, along with clearer nutritional information, so people can make more informed choices for themselves and their families without the guesswork, he said.

Nationally, there has been growing public concern about beverage companies using philanthropy to fend off public health and regulatory policies that aim to limit soda consumption. CDC itself was criticized in 2016 for two officials' connections to Coca Cola.

Yet some public health groups say industry must be part of the solution. Former first lady Michelle Obamas Lets Move initiative engaged the food and beverage industry as well as public health advocates. The initiative tried to work with food and beverage companies to promote voluntary limits on marketing of lower-value nutrition foods and beverages with limited results, public health analysts said.

A policy expert for a national advocacy group said state health officials often try to find common ground with industry in the fight against obesity, such as emphasizing exercise and promoting healthy eating in general.

Its politically safe to talk about physical activity and eat good stuff. Thats the norm, according to the expert, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because she said she didn't have enough information about Georgia's program. I wouldnt expect many health officers to be out there railing against Coke. Its what youd expect from almost any state health officer from a red state.

More worrisome, others said, are the Trump administrations proposed cuts to CDC. The fiscal 2018 budget would cut CDC by more than $1 billion, with reduced funding for chronic disease prevention and the elimination of funding for several programs. Those include the division of nutrition, obesity and physical activity and the Million Hearts program, an initiative to prevent heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.

Alice Crites contributed to this report.

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Visit link:
New CDC chief partnered with Coke in state obesity program - Washington Post

For Ruth Gottlieb, 82, and Jean Timper, 85, and members at the East Brunswick Senior Center in New Jersey, exercise is the high point of their day. What gets them most excited? Line dancing.

I even dance around the house. When Im vacuuming or cooking, I just stop and dance around and stretch. I like to be flexible, says Gottlieb, a former teacher who says her only regular exercise before retirement was running after students.

Since 2002, the friends have kept moving through programs designed by Rutgers Universitys Center for Exercising and Aging, in which students lead seniors in activities ranging from strength training to aerobics. If I had not been exercising all these years, I dont think Id be here or doing as great as I am, says Timper.

The center, which celebrates 15 years this year, was founded by Susan Kaplowitz, a teaching professor in the De-partment of Kinesiology and Health at Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences. As a personal trainer specializing in older adults, Kaplowitz realized that her students primarily exercise science majors would benefit from a course that taught them the importance of exercise in the aging population.

I wanted to provide a course that would prepare them for careers that involved geriatrics, she says. Plus, I thought it would be a great way to apply our knowledge to benefit the local community.

Kaplowitz launched the program with the participation of her own clients as she reached out to local senior centers and assisted living facilities, such as the East Brunswick Senior Center and Monroe Village in Monroe Township. The organizations partner with the program by allowing students to work with their members on-site or sending seniors to gyms on the Cook/Douglass campus for exercise classes throughout the year.

Seniors visit centers mainly to socialize, Kaplowitz says. Its an important part of their day. The program allows them to socialize and build their self-confidence as they see their strength improve. Many of our participants have not exercised before, especially in strength training.

Exercise helps older adults maintain daily functions, Kaplowitz notes. The most important exercises focus on the lower body to improve balance since seniors are prone to falls, she says. Cardiovascular exercise is also essential. As people age, muscle mass decreases and body fat composition increases, which can lead to conditions like diabetes. Car-dio can improve body composition and endurance and allow seniors to perform daily tasks without losing breath.

Strength training improves flexibility; when seniors keep moving, their joints stay mobile, helping to prevent osteoarthritis and assisting them in activities like moving their head easier when driving.

Ive seen many 80-year-olds who are more fit than 50-year-olds. It doesnt matter how athletic you once were, when your body ages, you need to exercise to maintain it, says teaching assistant Bella Bulsara, who will graduate this spring with a bachelors of science degree and continue on to graduate school to become a physical therapist. The most important goal is to preserve the ability to perform simple tasks, like lifting your arms and walking, without losing breath. Each person has his or her own constraints. The students learn how to tailor exercises to the individual, even when lead-ing a large group.

Last year, the center began a collaboration with Rutgers School of Health Professions, in which Aging Track program director Tracy Davis brings her perspective as a researcher in gerontology as an instructor and guest lecturer. In the future, Kaplowitz envisions more collaborations with the school.

The students perform community outreach as well. Since 2009, they have helped supervise the New Jersey Senior Olympics in Woodbridge and participated in the Middlesex County Run/Walk by hosting programs on balance, performing fitness tests and offering games.

I bubble over when I exercise with the students, says Millie Holder, 93, a resident at Monroe Village. They give great pointers. Its so important to keep as active as possible for your ability even if youre just moving your fingers. The students help me zero in on arthritis; I roll a ball up my arm with one finger, squeeze a ball or use stretch bands, but chair aerobics is my favorite.

Exercise has improved Holders stamina. I used to think it was such long walk to my apartment, she says.

Now, I run from my home to the auditorium. Being active every day is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

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Exercise program sparks new life in aging adults - Northwest Boomer and Senior News

All kids should be involved in a fitness or exercise program. Although many kids participate in sports, their practices and games do not guarantee that they are exercising for the recommended 60 minutes a day. According to American College of Sports Medicine, kids should be working out at a moderate to high intensity on a daily basis. To develop a well-rounded young athlete they should be performing the following during their workout sessions:

Most parents and coaches agree that Americas youth needs to participate in more fitness conditioning. Surprisingly, youth strength training is still considered controversial. It is a myth that strength/weight training is unsafe or dangerous for kids. Strength training is another great way to improve your childs overall sports performance, build their confidence and mitigate injuries.

Full length of young woman lifting barbell in gym

For so many decades, it has been believed that children 7 years and older should not partake in traditional strength training programs. However, push-ups, burpees and jump training are a big part of most competitive youth athletic programs. These basic total body exercises will enhance a kids overall fitness level and even develop some strength; but a structured strength training program is far more likely to improve a childs overall muscular development, coordination and fitness level. Despite this widespread myth, there is tremendous research and support from the sports sciences community encouraging parents to enroll their children in some form of a strength and conditioning program. If your kids are dedicated athletes and/or playing their sport for the majority of the year, strength and conditioning classes can have a positive impact on athletic development and help to mitigate injuries.

Myth-busting

It is a myth that strength training will damage a childs growth plates. It was originally thought that the gravitational pressure of weights would lead to damage of the soft growth plates located at the end of the bones. This damage would occur after the bones healed, leading to pre-mature fusing, which in turn would stunt growth. This is not true.

How does a kids body develop strength?

The bodys muscles can not differentiate between resistance that is being applied by a dumbbellor stress applied from aggressive playing, manual labor or sport specific movements like pull-ups, rope climbs, leaping and landing off the monkey bars. A childs body in many ways is more amazing than an adults. While it is growing it is constantly adapting. In fact, the muscles will contract and create force to counter the weight it is experiencing in an effort to enhance strength. It becomes stronger because it is forced to adapt. Consistent and regular strength training will increase the strength of a childs muscles and joints. Other benefits include improving the neuromuscular connection between the body and the brain essentiallyenhancing the neuro-mechanical coordination. The brain and the body communicate by sending signals. The goal is that the signals sent tell the appropriate muscles to fire or contract. When the body experiences structured strength training it recognizes how to recruit and contract these muscles more efficiently and when it is thenneeded to respond to a dynamic or explosive movement (i.e. sports movements).

Pee Wee Conditioning Class

10Guidelines for Youth Strength Training

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10 Guidelines for Youth Strength Training - ChicagoNow (blog)

Losing weight is one thing, Cheri Jackson knows, but keeping it off is another.

Thats why even after losing 113 pounds and being crowned TOPS (Taking Pounds Off Sensibly) 2016 Washington Queen for losing the most weight in the state since she started the program, the Enumclaw resident still plans to stick with the nonprofit program.

Before signing up with TOPS, Jackson had a volatile relationship with food and exercise.

In high school, she suffered from anorexia she didnt eat, and exacerbated her disease by over exercising.

They took me out of school. It was really serious, Jackson said, adding that she weighed 93 pounds.

She wasnt sent anywhere for inpatient treatment, but her mother had her go to the doctors twice a week and have blood tests to make sure everything was going OK.

Jackson eventually brought her eating and exercise habits back under control because she wanted to go back to school.

But when Jackson entered her 30s, she started slipping but in the opposite direction.

Truthfully, in my 30s, I had a hysterectomy and thats when it all went straight down. I started eating I think maybe because I wanted more kids, and I couldnt have more kids, she said.

As Jackson ate more and exercised less, she found herself in constant pain, so she went to her doctor to ask about weight-loss surgery.

You just need to get up and start moving, he told Jackson, who was put off by his answer and delayed any sort of weight-loss action for another five or so years.

It wasnt until she had to receive steroid shots to manage the pain of two herniated disks in her lower back did she finally call up a friend who was already involved with TOPS.

This was it. Either Im going to sit on a couch and be big and heavy and not have a life, or Im going to do something, she said. It was my last ditch effort.

Last ditch or no, Jackson was successful in her weight-loss endeavor, and was flown out to Little Rock, Arkansas on July 11 to celebrate her achievement with other TOPS royalty at the International Recognition Days celebration.

GROUP SUPPORT, PROFESSIONAL INFORMATION

Eating more consciously and exercising more regularly certainly contributed to Jacksons success with TOPS.

But one thing she feels helped her out more than anything else was the support she received from her local TOPS chapter, especially surrounding how she talked negatively about food and her weight.

I used to say horrible things, and theyd say, Are you serious? Yeah, Im serious, Jackson said, adding how shed call herself a cow or a whale. They started supporting me You need to stop. Instead of saying something like that, say something nice about yourself. Find something nice to say about yourself.

According to TOPS Wellness Manager Maggie Thorison, this sort of group support is one of the reasons why this nonprofit works better than other programs.

Sometimes you see or hear the terms good foods and bad foods, or as so many of us have said, I was so bad last night, I had a slice of cake, or, I was really good today, I didnt have many carbs at dinner, Thorison said. While statements like, I was good, or, I was bad, may seem kind of harmless, in a way when youre referring to foods as good or bad, youre saying youre good or bad when you eat those foods.

This is where many meal plans fall short and how group support can pick up the slack, Thorison said. Meal plans can tell you what to eat and how much, but its much harder to be introspective about your eating habits the how and why you eat on your own, instead of in a group setting.

Of course, TOPS doesnt expect every group to be able to do this without some help, and since most local chapters are led by volunteers with little to no nutritional background or wellness expertise, the nonprofit works to provide easily digestible professional information to their members.

Theres a lot of nutrition information out there, whether you see something on TV, maybe something pops up on your Facebook news feed, maybe a friend has this new diet shes been trying. Unfortunately theres a lot of bad or misleading information out there, and it can be really difficult for people to navigate, Thorison said. We provide (chapters) with resources such as programs, which is essentially scripted information geared toward the lay person all of those materials are either created by or reviewed by medical doctors, registered dietitians and other wellness experts.

This sort of flexibility allows individual chapters to determine what their needs are, as opposed to trying to fit their members to a particular meal program or exercise regimen.

We dont tell members what to eat. We dont dictate one specific food plan or try to sell foods. We know that different tools work for different people, Thorison said. Everyone is unique, and of course we want members to be safe before anything else.

That being said, there are still pitfalls people can fall into.

Since TOPS chapters are led by volunteers, there is no screening process for serious eating disorders.

While the information TOPS provides its chapters supports healthy eating and exercising habits, there is little information provided about preventing or treating an eating disorder, Thorison said, adding that all TOPS members are encouraged to check in with a primary physician before making changes to their meal plan or exercise routine, and to check in with them regularly to make sure they are staying healthy.

You can find a local meeting at http://www.tops.org/TOPS/FindAMeeting or by calling 800-932-8677. Membership is $32 a year, plus any chapter fees.

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Enumclaw tops weight-loss royalty celebrates success - Enumclaw Courier-Herald

Diet and exercise counseling provide a positive but small effect in preventing cardiovascular disease for otherwise-healthy adults, according to a new recommendation from one of the nations most influential health care organizations.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which makes recommendations that are often followed by clinicians and health insurance companies alike, released an updated guideline Tuesday morning on one of the nations most pressing problems: How to fight the ongoing obesity epidemic estimated to affect one in three adults.

After reviewing the results of 88 clinical trials, a panel maintained a middle-of-the-road C grade for diet and exercise counseling for those classified as normal or overweight who have no known risk factors for heart disease such as hypertension, high blood sugar levels, elevated blood cholesterol or diabetes. The rating leaves it up to individual doctors to decide whether or not each patient they see could benefit from more intensive weight-loss programs often led by nutritionists who offer a combination of sound advice and regular check ups one-on-one and in group settings.

This higher level attention, often delivered through six-month comprehensive lifestyle programs, is already strongly recommended for anyone with cardiovascular risk factors and for those whose body mass index classifies them as obese based on studies that show clear and substantial benefits. In some cases, for example, diabetic patients are able to stop taking medications after moving toward healthier food choices and becoming more active. But, after looking at the evidence, experts were not able to find that behavioral counseling made a huge difference in who, among the overweight and those of normal weight, ended up developing heart disease.

The C rating is important for another big reason: The Affordable Care Act requires all health insurance companies to cover preventive services receiving an A or B rating from the task force. So, while insurance companies are currently required to cover weight loss counseling for those who are already obese, that will not be the case for those who are merely overweight. This is despite the fact that the American Heart Association recommends such counseling for both weight categories.

Dr. Carol Mangione, a task force member and practicing internal medicine specialist who teaches at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, said the letter grade should not be taken as evidence that diet and exercise changes are not beneficial or critical in fighting the nations obesity epidemic. Its just that, when looking only at the evidence, other choices, such as quitting smoking, deliver a larger benefit and thus get a higher grade.

As to the fact that a C grade is one shy of insurance coverage requirements? Though the task force is seen as the arbiter of what gets covered and what does not, thats not part of the evaluation process.

We look at the clinical evidence but we dont consider insurance coverage at all, Mangione said.

Because it looks at weight through the lens of cardiovascular disease, the recommendation, noted Dr. James Sallis, a well-known behavioral medicine researcher at UC San Diego, is far from the last word on who should be told to enroll in a comprehensive lifestyle program and who shouldnt.

The problem is, diet and exercise specifically are related to many different diseases. Cardiologists dont pay much attention to cancer and osteoporosis and depression, but they are all affected by obesity. Recently, as an example, there was a very large study that linked physical activity levels to 13 different cancers, Sallis said.

The bigger problem, he added, is that many doctors dont know what to do, beyond advocating for a plant-based diet more regular exercise, when they encounter a patient who is overweight and at risk of eventually becoming obese. Often, he said, they send patients to gyms and other self-directed resources even though evidence shows that the best results are obtained from the kinds of programs which help people set specific goals, have accurate ways to track progress toward those goals and have some sort of mechanism, such as group meetings where results are shared, to provide accountability.

Creating a link between doctors and these more-proven options, he said, is whats needed in order to reverse the obesity epidemic, and thats why the C grade was a little disappointing.

A C recommendation is not going to stimulate much change. The way our system works, if they dont have a diagnosis that would lead to coverage, then they are going to have to pay out of pocket. When patients have to pay out of pocket, theyre less likely to follow a doctors recommendations, Sallis said.

paul.sisson@sduniontribune.com

(619) 293-1850

Twitter: @paulsisson

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Diet and exercise counseling gets lukewarm recommendation from national panel - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Monday, July 10, 2017 3:52 PM UTC

Wichita, KAN., July 10, 2017 -- Genesis Health Clubs announced plans today to launch a huge slate of dozens of revamped group fitness classes, featuring new music, routines and added timeslots. The new classes begin on July 15th and will continue weekly.

Justen Maron, Vice President of Group Fitness commented: Group Exercise keeps people motivated and engaged and frankly, its the most fun way to exercise. What better way to take care of your health than with a classroom filled with friends and a supportive, energetic instructor leading the way?

Maron continued: Fitness is constantly evolving, and we are partnered with some of the best in the industry to stay on top of the trends. Yoga and Cycling are staples, but today, members demand movement training, HIIT workouts, and current trends like Barre. We stay at the front of pack by regularly updating our programs.

Its a massive undertaking, but were refreshing everything: Yoga, Pilates, Zumba, Group Power, Group Ride, Group Centergy, Group Blast, Group Fight I could go on. Theyre all getting an update and theyre all better than ever. More options, more variety, more of the group exercise thats sweeping the nation right now with its popularity.

All of Genesis Health Clubs 41 clubs will feature the new and revamped classes. Great care is being taken to make sure that all members can be accommodated. Maron was quick to reassure: When new classes launch, it is one of the busiest times for our clubs and the Group Exercise department, in particular. We want to make sure that everyone who wants to take one of these classes has an opportunity, so weve carefully calibrated our schedule to eliminate bottlenecks. These are very popular classes, though, so Id advise anyone who is interested to sign up or show up early!

About Genesis Health Clubs

Genesis Health Clubs believes innovating, educating and helping people look and feel better than they ever have before. By providing the most well-rounded gym experience in their 41 clubs throughout the Midwest, Genesis delivers premium amenities, a variety of classes and world-class training to its members. Genesis Health Clubs will continue to grow, change, innovate, add new services and even new locations to give their members what they need to achieve their goals. For more information, please visit http://www.genesishealthclubs.com.

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Genesis Health Clubs Launches Dozens of Revamped Group Exercise Classes - EconoTimes

By Robin Williams Adams Your Health correspondent

LAKELAND A sizeable contingent of people turn to instructor-led exercise programs like Zumba and tai chi to get their bodies in better shape and have fun along the way.

I do it twice a week and I love it, said Carol Thormahlen, who gets Zumba training. It gets you moving and its good for your heart.

Susan and Charlie Walsh attend tai chi classes two mornings a week.

When we started, I had kinks here and there, recalled Charlie Walsh, adding I dont have them anymore. We have fun, too.

Despite the deceptively slower pace of tai chi, the movements arent as simple as they look.

Its not easy, said Susan Walsh. It involves the mind telling the body what to do.

Most people who take up exercise after having been inactive are familiar with the advice to check with their primary care doctor.

They may not have heard the suggestion by some physical therapists to get an assessment of how they move and what their bodies are ready to handle.

Physical therapists at Bartow Regional Medical Center are among those promoting the merits of getting a functional movement assessment if youre taking part in or starting an exercise program or sport.

We offer assessments that can give you a good idea of what you need to do to stay active and fit, said Tyler Love, who has a doctorate in physical therapy.We can do it on a 14-year-old or an 85-year-old.

Having an assessment before you experience pain reduces the risk of injuries occurring because parts of your body dont function well, said Jim Goodwin, manager of BRMCs outpatient rehabilitation program.

Emphasis on preventing injuries reflects a trend espoused by the American Physical Therapy Association in Alexandria, Va., which suggests annual checkups by a physical therapist.

The APTA, as in much of medicine, is trying to look more upstream and think about primary prevention and wellness, said Jennifer Gamboa of Body Dynamics in Falls Church, Va., who has a doctorate in physical therapy. Its about how all the systems work together, including the movement system.

Movement screening looks at primary movement patterns that everyone, especially young athletes, should be able to do, said Gamboa, who evaluates movement and mobility as part of her practice.

BRMC formed an alliance this spring with the girls soccer program at Bartow High School.

They gave the female athletes functional movement assessments, a process that includes having them do movements like squats (involving muscles used in sitting down), straight leg raises and hip hinge movements (as when you pick something up off the floor).

The assessment is 60 to 90 minutes of one-on-one time with a physical therapist and includes recommended exercises.

Of 20 or so soccer players assessed, four or five had movement issues raising red flags that needed follow-up sessions for individual exercise programs they can do on their own, said Thomas Bell, another BRMC physical therapist with a doctorate.

For those in better shape, Love went to the teams off-season strength conditioning class and counseled them in techniques like warm-up breathing exercises.

I was on board because as a coach, in trying to help your team, reducing injury is beneficial, said Eina Dorado, head girls soccer coach at Bartow High School.

Were in the beginning stages with this sort of program, working with the physical therapists. Im hoping the girls will be better equipped, with the exercises they can do, and be more mindful of their body positioning.

The team is implementing breathing exercises the physical therapists showed them, she said, explaining that the exercises help set young athletes spines in proper alignment to prepare them for weight lifting.

When movement assessments identify weaknesses in individual players, she said, coaches can modify their strength-conditioning training until players have the proper form and strength to execute prescribed training exercises.

Female athletes have a much higher rate of non-contact injuries of the ACL, anterior cruciate ligament, than male athletes do.

Theresa Trentham, physical therapy assistant student at Polk State College, played on the George Jenkins High School soccer team and is an avid runner.

Im a runner so my legs override everything else, the Lakeland resident said.

While training at Bartow Regional, she got a functional movement assessment and wasnt surprised to learn she had poor abdominal core control. Shes now incorporated a program of core work, squats and stretching in her daily routine.

By doing that, she said, she expects to be running longer and avoid pain.

Whatever the weak link is in the chain is where you end up seeing the pain, Bell said.

Functional movement assessments also are done for people who have pain. Pain can limit what people do and leads to poor movement patterns as people try to reduce or work around the pain.

Chronic illnesses can be triggered by lack of physical activity, Gamboa said, and lack of physical activity often is due to past pain.

Goodwin, who had a torn meniscus, said he got an assessment and a prescribed exercise program when problems continued after his surgery in July 2014. Doing the exercises for 10-15 minutes most days helped him regain a fuller range of motion and stopped him from limping, he said.

Having the assessment costs $90. Follow-up sessions are about $60, he said.

Robin Williams Adams can be reached at robinwadams99@yahoo.com.

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An assessment can lead to better exercise - The Ledger

Bryan Roth admits hes a bit of an anomaly.

Each day, usually around lunchtime, Roth takes a short walk from his office in the West Duke Building to Brodie Recreation Center to get in a workout.

He said the workout is a continuation of healthy habits he picked up during his days running cross country in high school. Its also an effective way to clear his mind in the middle of a workday.My body expects it, said Roth, the senior public relations specialist for the Kenan Institute of Ethics. So on days when Im not going to the gym or I dont go for a run, Ill try to walk a little bit more so at least I feel like Im doing something else.

According to the American Heart Association, a healthy goal for most people is 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, five days a week.

Looking to weave exercise into your workday? As Healthy Duke, an initiative that invites Duke community members to build the healthiest organization inthe U.S., prepares for a fall launch, consider these ways.

Join a campus gym

If you enroll through the Duke Fitness Club offered by LIVE FOR LIFE, Dukes employee wellness program, you can get discounted membership rates to Brodie Recreation Center and Wilson Recreation Center on West Campus.

Duke Recreation and Physical Education also provides Duke employees an array of membership options for Brodie and Wilson, ranging from annual family plans to a $10 per-visit rate.

Mike Yun, business and human relations manager for Duke Recreation and Physical Education, said there are more than 3,000 Duke faculty and staff with Duke Recreation and Physical Education memberships. A membership earns you access to all recreation facilities on campus.

Roth has been a Brodie regular for seven years.

The good thing is, if youre on East Campus, its centrally located for where you work, Roth said. If youre on West Campus, it might be a 10-minute walk. But its awesome that its just 10 minutes away by foot.

Get with a program

One of the main goals of LIVE FOR LIFE is to get faculty and staff moving. And there are a few ways to make that happen.

The Duke Run/Walk Club starts its Fall session in August. The 12-week program is open to employees of all fitness levels with sessions at 5:30 p.m. on East Campus.

LIVE FOR LIFE also organizes promotions in which employees can earn prizes while making progress toward fitness goals. Programs such as Fit in 15, with its approachable exercise benchmarks, and Januarys Get Moving Challenge, which adds a group contest element, are among the employee wellness programs most popular. Each aims to make mixing physical activity into your workday a manageable option.

We tell people that if they want to break their exercise down into smaller segments throughout their day, that benefits them just as much as doing it all at once, said Taylor Miron, LIVE FOR LIFE fitness specialist. We try to build a lot of our programs based on that idea. I think people really relate well to that and feel a lot less pressure.

Take a walk

For a simple way to squeeze exercise into your day, try an option that doesnt require a membership, money or much help.

Walking is perhaps the easiest way to get the recommended 30 minutes of exercise per day.

Popular campus routes include the two-mile loop around East Campus and the 2.9-mile Al Buehler Trail that winds through Duke Forest near West Campus. Sarah P. Gardens on West Campus features trails that make for easy, short walking options.

Walking is the number one activity we encourage, Miron said. With the gardens being close by, you can walk through there. Even between Duke South and Duke North, theres quite a bit of walking.

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How to Work Out at Work - Duke Today

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