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Georgia ranks 41st among states on older peoples health, down two spots from last years ranking, a new report says.

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The state improved on several measures despite the lower ranking, according to the fifth annual Americas Health Rankings Senior Report, produced by United Health Foundation.

Georgia had a 12 percent decrease in senior poverty in the past two years; a 16 percent increase in health screenings over that time; and a similar rise in seniors with high health status. It also has a low prevalence of excessive drinking and a high percentage of hospice use.

But the state also has a high hip fracture hospital rate; a low percentage of quality nursing home beds; and a high smoking rate.

As in other health rankings, Southern states were aggregated at the bottom of the rankings. Mississippi ranked 50th, trailing Kentucky (49), Oklahoma (48), Louisiana (47), Arkansas (46) and West Virginia (45). Tennessee was 44th, Alabama 43rdand Missouri 42nd.

Minnesota was ranked first, followed by Utah, Hawaii, Colorado and New Hampshire.

Georgia has more than 1 million people 65 and older a number that is expected to increase over the next two decades, like senior populations in other states.

Nationally, the report found significant improvements in care quality and outcomes for seniors since 2013, including:

But obesity prevalence rose to 27.6 percent of adults aged 65 years and older in 2017, representing a five-year high. Georgias obesity rate among seniors was 29.7 percent.

Food insecurity which refers to a lack of dependable access to nutritious foods rose to 15.8 percent of U.S. adults aged 60 years and older, with Georgias at 17.8 percent.

The report is a call to action for stakeholders, Dr. Linda Britton, medical director of UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, told Georgia Health News on Thursday. We have a dramatically growing population of seniors with increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, she added. Those two health conditions, she said, are going to be a huge problem.

We clearly need to improve access to healthy food and increase the ability of seniors to exercise safely, Britton added.

Among positive trends she cited were the decline in unnecessary hospitalizations and in readmissions of recently discharged patients.

Georgia specifically should work on increasing the number of quality nursing home beds, Britton added.

The national data also show that 62 percent of retired seniors age 65 and over, and nearly three out of four non-retired adults age 50 to 64, have less in total retirement savings than what experts recommend saving for health care costs alone. (Heres a link to the report.)

Glenn Ostir, director of the Institute of Gerontology at the University of Georgias College of Public Health, said Thursday that programs spearheaded by state and local agencies could be advanced to create a sustainable Healthy Aging Initiative.

This initiative could build on and advance the notable successes of the past two years, such as lowering the overall poverty rate in the state and increasing the number of health care screenings, Ostir said. For example, opportunities exist in providing community support to older adults living in poverty, promoting low-impact exercise programs to reduce the risk of bone fractures, especially hip fractures, and providing high-quality affordable nursing home care for elders.

Shifting state demographics toward an older, more ethnically diverse population will increase age-related health risks, he said. Early identification of areas of need and the rapid implementation of programs designed to address these needs will increase the quality of life and independence of older Georgians in the coming decades.

Andy Miller is the editor and CEO of Georgia Health News.

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Georgia Slips To 41st In National Senior Health Rating - WABE 90.1 FM

By Dr. Pete Stucchi

ApexNetwork Physical Therapy

Falls can diminish your ability to lead an active and independent life. About one third of people over the age of 65 and almost half of people over the age of 80 will fall at least once this year. There usually are several reasons for a fall. Physical therapists can help you reduce your risk of falling by:

Assessing your risk of falling

Helping you make your home as safe as possible

Educating you about the medical risk factors linked to falls

Designing individualized exercises and balance training

Working with other health care professionals and community services to create programs for people who want to reduce their risk of falling

What Are Falls?

Dr. Pete Stucchi ApexNetwork

The reasons for falls are complex and include:

Being 80 years old or older

Leg muscle weakness

Difficulty with balance or walking

Vision problems (cataracts, macular degeneration, wearing bifocals)

Medical conditions that limit your ability to get around, such as Parkinson disease, stroke, or diabetes

Conditions that cause confusion, such as dementia and Alzheimer disease

Depression

Taking more than four medications at the same time or psychoactive medications (such as sedatives or antidepressants)

Using a cane or other walking device

Home hazards (throw rugs, pets underfoot)

Low blood pressure

The more risk factors you have, the greater your risk. The factors associated with the greatest fall risk are:

A history of previous falls

Balance problems

Leg muscle weakness

Vision problems

Taking more than four medications or psychoactive medications

Difficulty with walking

How can a physical therapist help?

If you are worried about falling or if you recently had a fall, your physical therapist can conduct a brief check ("screening") of your fall risk. If the screening shows that you are at risk, the therapist will perform a thorough evaluation, including:

A review of your medical history

A review of your medications

A simple vision tests

A home safety assessment

A simple screen of your thinking abilities

A check of your heart rate

Blood pressure measurements while you change positions (from sitting to standing)

Feet and footwear assessment

Assessment of any nervous system disorders, such as stroke or Parkinson disease

The therapist also will:

Measure your leg strength, using simple tests such as timing how long it takes you to risk from a chair

Determine how quickly and steadily you walk

Assess your balance for instance, by having you stand on one leg or rise from a chair and walk

Use special tests to measure your balance

Based on the evaluation results, your physical therapist will design an exercise and training program to improve your balance and strength. A recent systematic review of many published studies found that exercise-based programs in the home or in group settings are effective in preventing falls. These programs are especially effective when balance exercises are performed in a standing position without using much arm support.

Balance Training

Balance training has been shown to be an important and effective part of falls prevention. Your physical therapist will design exercises that challenge your ability to keep your balance, including such exercises as single-leg standing.

Walking and Moving

When people walk very slowly or are unsteady, they are at risk of falling. Your physical therapist can improve your walking ability by having you do such activities as:

Dance steps

Walking in circles

"Figure 8" exercises to strengthen the core abdominal muscles that help stabilize your body

Obstacle courses

Doing More Than One Thing at the Same TimeSafely

Older adults who have difficulty walking and talking at the same time are at a higher risk of falling. To help increase your safety during daily activities, your physical therapist can design a "dual-task" training program. This kind of training will challenge you to maintain walking speed while you do another task, such as counting backwards, engaging in a conversation, or carrying a bag of groceries.

Strength Training

Strengthening exercises are a key element of fall prevention when they are done in conjunction with balance training. Your physical therapist will design strengthening exercises that focus on your leg and the muscles used in maintaining posture.

Aerobic Training

Aerobic exercise is physical exercise of relatively low intensity and long duration; it can help improve almost every aspect of your health. Walking is one of the safest forms of aerobic exercise, no matter what kind of problem you have. Once you have begun your strengthening and balance program, your physical therapist will know when you're ready to start aerobic exercise. Depending on your ability, the therapist might have you do three 30-minute walking sessions each week.

Education

Your physical therapist will take the time to explain to you how to best manage your own risks for falling. Your therapist also may talk to you about the best activities for you to do to maintain your quality of life.

Fear Management

It will be important for you to talk with your physical therapist about any fear of falling that you have. Your therapist will work with you to determine whether there are activities you should avoid. Your therapist also will work with you to determine whether your fear may be unfounded and whether there are activities that you should be doing to keep strong and help your balance.

Community Programs

Several fall prevention programs are being promoted by the Injury Prevention and Control Center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in collaboration with the Administration on Aging. These programs help people:

Reduce their fear of falling

Set goals for increasing their physical activity

Make their homes more safe

Do more exercise to increase strength and balance

Your physical therapist may be involved in setting up one of these programs and can help you find programs in your area that would be best for you. #choosePT

Dr. Pete Stucchi, PT, DPT is the physical therapist and clinic manager at ApexNetwork Physical Therapy in Sterling. Dr. Pete is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and has a bachelor's degree in athletic training. He has been practicing physical therapy for the last 11-plus years, dry needling for the last five years, and working with athletes for over 18 years. Pete uses evidence based treatments that include manual therapy and exercise to help expedite recovery. He has a passion for advocating for the physical therapy profession, and enjoys treating a variety of neurologic/sports/orthopedic conditions. His particular interests are in chronic pain, concussion management, fall prevention, movement disorders and how to help patients continue activity while managing their pain. In addition to patient care, Pete oversees daily operations of the clinic, marketing, and community/event planning. He currently resides in Sterling with his wife and two sons. Contact Dr. Pete at ApexNetwork Physical Therapy 970-425-7272, 126 N. Second St., Sterling to set up an appointment for a complimentary discovery session to see how PT can help you meet your goals. Colorado is a direct access state and no referral is required to begin your physical therapy care. Call today to make an appointment. For healthy tips and ways to help getting back to living life, Like and Share "Dr. Pete Stucchi, Physical Therapist" on Facebook. @DrPetePT. Check out @ApexNetworkSterlingCo on Facebook as well!

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Physical therapist's guide to falls - Journal Advocate

ROCHESTER and district cancer sufferers have access to a program using the latest research right in their backyard.

Recent research suggests exercise is beneficial for most people during treatment as it can help manage some of the common side effects of treatment, speed up return to usual activities and improve quality of life.

Rochester and Elmore District Health Service (REDHS) are working with accredited exercise physiologist, Sophie Beavis, to offer professional exercise advice to support people having cancer treatment to be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow.

REDHS primary care manager Sam Campi said its an outstanding opportunity which supports patients to stay in their local community.

There are two phases of the burden of cancer; the illness itself and the burden of travel taking the pressure off families and income to keep patients in their community for just one appointment can make a lot of difference as most people have to travel to Bendigo for treatment.

We want to get the word out and let people know this service is available and comes at no extra cost to the patient. The way to get involved is to talk to your oncologist and general practitioner to see if its something you could benefit from and get a referral to see Sophie.

This service is also provided at Kyabram District Health Service and Echuca Regional Health, consisting of a six-month trial project funded by Loddon Mallee Integrated Cancer Services (LMICS).

Sophie will work with oncology teams and allied health staff at the health services to ensure safe exercise plans are tailored to the individual.

Here is the original post:
Exercise programs are helping cancer treatment | Shepparton News - Shepparton News

When I think of how many years I avoided the senior center, I am ashamed of myself and especially as I have been learning and writing about the Changing Aging Tour: Lifes Most Dangerous Game that is coming to Patriot Place next Thursday (June 15). Every one of us should be there, because its going to be an exciting program and we can contribute so much to it with our upbeat and forward looking outlooks.

My first thought was that our senior center is so far ahead of the game. I, who was very very hesitant to get involved with those older people, now find myself almost furious when I talk about a trip or something Im doing at the center and get a reply like OH, I never realized they did ... whatever.

While we are on the cutting edge in so many ways, including the cross-section of exercise programs and community dinners, outside speakers, old time movies, and even the latest being a memory caf, we still have some ideas and contributions to make. Our most common complaints seem to be transportation and wanting to stay in our home and our town thus developing our own Angie type list.

I have been reading tons of information on Dr. Bill Thomas innovative approach to aging and the tremendous strides he is making along with Savan Petersons input in making these changes happen.

Dr. Thomas is really looking to improve things for us, but more important is asking us to make life better for all the baby boomers who are not may years away from this step of adulthood. Why not share the good ideas we have and also pick the brains of others to improve this period in our lives today?

I love the caf. It seems free for the most part of negativity. Talk could be about gardening nutrition, some place we are going to be traveling ... all positive and upbeat. If you are looking for a doctor or place for physical therapy that comes in also. What better way to start my day with exercise and then some socialization at the caf We seem to laugh at ourselves.

So bottom line, you will see I have written a news story giving all the information in a short news story that includes the essential informationbut I could personalize my thoughts (although many journalists do so today ... what I oppose) and I want to scream This program is absolutely fantastic! We just shouldnt miss it.

(If I am wrong, I will invite everyone to my house for lunch, drinks etc. and write a public apology like I did after I took my first trip with the seniors to Texas)

Make sure you get tickets on the first-come first-served basis. We can get more tickets if needed. Now that is off my chest, go read more about the program. Looking forward to seeing you there.

.

Evie Malm lives on Cedar Lane and is a regular contributor to The Reporter.

Original post:
MALM: You have to go to this program - The Sun Chronicle

In support of myNKYs vision to promote a culture of good health in Northern Kentucky, LiveWell Newport and the YMCA have partnered with local fitness organizations to provide free exercise classes twice weekly until September 16.

Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10-11 a.m. at Buena Vista Park (W 12 th St. Newport).

These family-friendly classes will be guided by Yoga Bar, NewCov Crossfit, Train with Pauir, Change Yoga and the Campbell County YMCA.

Each class offers participants the opportunity to learn about a different type of exercise, from yoga to CrossFit. All fitness levels are welcome, and participants just need to bring water and a mat/towel (limited supply also available at site).

LiveWell Newport, a coalition of diverse community stakeholders, shares a common commitment to health and wellness in Newport. The coalition is focused on programs that make the healthy choice the easy choice in Northern Kentucky. Past and current projects include park cleanups, a community health fair, walking trail design and nutrition education at local schools.

Barbie Barnes, St. Elizabeth Healthcare associate and LiveWell Newport co-chair, shares her excitement for this program: LiveWell NKYs momentum is clearly evident in Newport, as we launch this opportunity for residents to get moving in one of our beautiful Newport parks. We are grateful to our partners for their enthusiastic support and commitment to a healthier community.

Follow #ExercisinginBVPark on Facebook for updates and cancellations, or see the following schedule for more information:

Every Tuesday Campbell County YMCA 6 p.m.

1st Saturday Yoga Bar 10 a.m.

2nd Saturday Train with Pauir 10 a.m.

3rd Saturday Change Yoga 10 a.m.

4th Saturday NewCov Crossfit 10 a.m.

LiveWell NKY is a community-wide initiative to ignite a movement toward a culture of health in Northern Kentucky. LiveWell focuses on the areas of nutrition, physical activity and tobacco-free living, aided by changes in policies and environments.

Continued here:
Free workout classes: LiveWell Newport hosts exercise at Buena Vista Park Tuesdays, Saturdays - User-generated content (press release) (registration)

Kindhearted Home Care owner Diane Goetsch (left) and Exercise Physiologist Ashley Millenbah

Jeremy Ratliff Reporter

Last Friday afternoon, Kindhearted Home Care (KHC) of Merrill announced yet another expansion of services. According to facility owner Diane Goetsch, in addition to the new health and fitness center which recently celebrated its 1 year anniversary, the center will now be offering wellness classes at the center. Two of the classes will start yet this month; Chair Yoga and Stable and Strong. The classes will be led by Merrill native and recent UW-Oshkosh graduate Ashley Millenbah. As Millenbah explains, Chair Yoga is a gentle form of Yoga practiced sitting on a chair for support, which reduces strain on limbs and joints. The chair acts as an extension of your body, allowing you to take full advantage of the exercises. Chair yoga provides the same benefits as traditional yoga, which include increases in strength, balance, flexibility, and body awareness. Additional benefits include, improved stress and pain management as well as mental clarity. This class is great for people of all ages and ability levels, including those who utilize a wheelchair. Stable and Strong is class aiming to improve strength and balance, by using a variety of fitness tools such as dumbbells, resistance bands and balance discs. Exercises are performed sitting and standing behind a chair or with a chair in reach at all times for additional support, if necessary. Including a strength and balance regimen into your exercise routine allows for building strength, maintaining bone density, improving balance, coordination and mobility as well as reducing risk of falls. This class is ideal for people who are looking to maintain independence at home and increase their day to day confidence. Millenbah holds a Bachelors Degree in Kinesiology as well as certification as an Exercise Physiologist through the American College of Sports Medicine. She is also certified in CPR, AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and First Aid. According to Goetsch, the idea of expanding KHC arose upon receiving an unexpected phone call from Millenbah in April. Ashley contacted me as she was graduating college in April. She indicated she was interested in coming back to the Merrill area and inquired if there was an employment opportunity available with my health and fitness programs, I had read an article on the Merrill Foto News Facebook page about Diane and Kindhearteds one year anniversary in April, Ashley adds. I was curious if she may be interested in expanding her existing health and wellness programs and she happened to be interested. My degree and education is focused on health and fitness. I saw a need for these types of classes in the Merrill area and I was interested in working with seniors. The pair plan to incorporate additional classes at KHC in the near future and would like to welcome participants of all ages to take advantage of KHCs wide array of programs and services. group exercise classes end of June, adding additional classes for all ages at all ability levels. Diane and Ashley can be reached at Kindhearted Home Cares Health and Fitness Center during regular business hours of 8 AM-7 PM (Mon-Thu) and 8 AM-5PM on Fridays, at 715-218-3772.

Read more:
Kindhearted Home Care's fitness center to offer fitness classes - Merrillfotonews

Free exercise classes are coming to a Newport park, led by some familiar names in local fitness.

The effort is in support of the myNKY plan to promote a culture of good health in Northern Kentucky, and is a partnership between LiveWell Newport and the Campbell County YMCA.

Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings at Buena Vista Park (on West 12th Street in Newport).

The family-friendly classes will be guided by Yoga Bar, NewCov Crossfit, Train with Pauir, Change Yoga, and the Campbell County YMCA.

LiveWell Newport, a coalition of diverse community stakeholders, is focused on programs that promote healthy choices. Past and current projects include park cleanups, a community health fair, walking trail design, and nutrition education at local schools.

LiveWell NKYs momentum is clearly evident in Newport, as we launch this opportunity for residents to get moving in one of our beautiful Newport parks," saidBarbie Barnes, St. Elizabeth Healthcare associate andLiveWellNewport co-chair, in a news release. "We are grateful to our partners for their enthusiastic support and commitment to a healthier community.

Those interested can follow updates on Facebook with the hashtag#ExercisinginBVPark.

THE SCHEDULE THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16

Every Tuesday:Campbell County YMCA 6 p.m.

1st Saturday:Yoga Bar 10 a.m.

2nd Saturday:Train with Pauir 10 a.m.

3rd Saturday: Change Yoga 10 a.m.

4th Saturday: NewCov Crossfit 10 a.m.

-Staff report

Photo:Buena Vista Park (RCN file)

See more here:
Free Exercise Programs Come to Newport Park for the Summer - The River City News

Just when youre at your lowest after suffering a stroke, youll be asked to do some of the hardest things youve ever done in your life. The road to recovery includes a significant amount of rehabilitation. Youll undergo physical therapy to regain gross motor skills such as walking and maintaining your balance. Occupational therapy will help you relearn how to perform everyday tasks like eating and bathing yourself. Speech therapy supports your ability to communicate, and psychological counseling will help you deal with the emotional stress.

At the top of the list of tough challenges will be incorporating exercise into your recovery. New research shows that exercise may be one of the most important parts of your recovery not just for your body, but for your mind as well.

What the Research Shows About Exercise After Stroke

Doctors and therapists have long known that exercise is helpful after a stroke, but an analysis of several research studies provides more insight into what exercise actually works best specifically the type of exercise and the duration.

The biggest takeaway from the analysis is that exercise after a stroke is good not only for the body but for the brain as well. In the simplest terms, a stroke cuts off blood supply to the brain. It can impair cognition, which includes vital mental processes such as thinking, memory, understanding, and learning.

This new research shows that people who exercise after a stroke show greater improvements in cognition than people who do not exercise. And the good news is, that exercise does not need to be intense: Walking on a treadmill at a slow pace was enough to provide a benefit.

The people who have the most significant improvements in cognition after stroke combine this type of moderate aerobic exercise with strength and balance exercises. They see benefits in their working memory, mental processing speed, and attention.

While most people who suffer a stroke will be encouraged to start an exercise program early in the recovery process, the research showed the benefits were seen even if exercise started much later. Stroke patients who began exercising 2.5 years after their stroke still saw benefits in cognition. Additionally, the exercise program did not have to last long; programs that lasted four to 12 weeks were just as effective as longer-term regimens.

Exercise Is Only Part of the Equation

The holistic approach that brings together exercise with other forms of therapy are all important parts of the stroke recovery process. Equally important is making lifestyle changes that may help to ward off another stroke in the future.

These changes should include controlling medical conditions such as atrial fibrillation, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity. You should also make sure that you get the recommended amount of exercise (when and if youre physically able), and make changes to your diet including cutting back on the amount of alcohol you drink to reduce your risks.

Keep in mind that if you or someone you love has suffered a stroke, its critical to maintain hope and a positive outlook. Your rehabilitation team will be working hard to help you live a happy, independent, and healthy life.

See the rest here:
Stroke rehabilitation and exercise - Chadds Ford Live

Walking and running are widely used modes of exercise to improve fitness and promote weight loss. The energy expended (calories burned) during walking or running can be directly measured in a lab or estimated based on speed and body weight.

It can also be determined using one of many wearable devices and mobile apps. A commonly-used estimation is that walking or running one mile elicits an energy expenditure of 100 calories.

This estimation, while crude, is interesting because of its wide use and apparent acceptance, even though it hasnt been tested for accuracy.

Research we did in the Exercise Science Lab at USC Aiken and presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting last week examined the accuracy of the 100 calories per mile estimate across a wide range of walking and running speeds.

To do this we asked subjects ranging in age from 20 to 44 years to walk or run one mile at a speed they selected on a treadmill while energy expenditure was determined.

Some of the subjects walked and some ran, so the speeds ranged from 3 to 7 mph. For accuracy, we measured the air they breathed to measure how much oxygen they consumed to calculate how many calories they burned.

We found that the measured energy expenditure across all speeds was 108 calories per mile. It was higher (115 calories) during running and lower (98 calories) during walking. None of these were significantly different from the 100 calories per mile estimate.

There was a high degree of variability among subjects in energy expenditure, even at similar walking or running speed. This was due to body weight, with heavier people burning more calories when they walked or ran.

These findings are consistent with previous studies that compared the measured energy expenditure of walking and running one mile at set speeds. In our study, we allowed subjects to select their own walking or running speed, so it more closely reflects how people would exercise outside of a research setting.

Research also shows that the energy expenditure during treadmill exercise was almost exactly the same as walking or running on a track, so our findings would also be applicable to walking or running on level ground.

In conclusion, the widely-used estimate of 100 calories per mile appears to be accurate across a wide range of walking and running speeds. This supports using the 100 calories per mile value for estimating energy expenditure for fitness or weight loss purposes.

For example, some exercise programs prescribe exercise based on calories burned rather than time or distance. And people who are trying to lose or maintain weight can use the 100 calories per mile estimate to help balance their energy intake and expenditure.

It is important to note that the 100 calories per mile estimate does not replace more accurate measurements or calculations that are done in a research or clinical setting. And wearable devices and apps are easy ways to get a good idea of how your energy expenditure during a wider range of activities.

But, if you want to know how many calories you burn during a run or how long you need to walk to offset what you eat, the 100 calories per mile estimate will give you a pretty good idea.

Brian Parr, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at USC Aiken where he teaches courses in exercise physiology, nutrition and health behavior. You can learn more about this and other health and fitness topics at http://drparrsays.com or on Twitter @drparrsays.

More:
HEALTH AND FITNESS: Is it really 100 calories per mile - Aiken Standard

Laquita Johnson, of Tyler, wanted to improve her overall health, and talked to her primary care physician about how she could lower her cholesterol, increase her strength and get in better physical condition.

That was last November, and Ms. Johnson remembers, I knew I couldnt do it alone; I needed help.

Her doctor recommended the free Exercise is Medicine program at East Texas Medical Centers Olympic Center second-floor gym and wrote a free exercise prescription for Ms. Johnson to participate.

An Exercise is Medicine credentialed staff member, Hali Kizer, program coordinator, made a free fitness assessment of Ms. Johnson.

The hour-long assessment included a check of her heart rate, blood pressure, height, weight, body fat percentage, strength, flexibility and an aerobic fitness test.

Next Ms. Johnson came in for a 30-minute appointment. By then, Ms. Kizer had developed a free personalized exercise regimen for her and recommended which exercise machines to use, trained her in how to adjust the seat and weights on each machine.

She also recommended how long and how many days per week to exercise. Ms. Johnson then received a free two-week pass to the gym to try out the prescribed exercise regimen.

After that two-week introduction, Ms. Kizer conducted a follow-up meeting with Ms. Johnson to see how things were going.

Ms. Kizer said at that point with all trainees, she asks them if they want to continue exercising in a gym. If they do, they have the options of joining the Olympic Center gym or another gym.

Im not going to pressure them to join with us, Ms. Kizer said.

If they do not want to join a gym, Ms. Kizer sends them off with recommended home exercises.

Ms. Johnson had not been getting any exercise when she entered the Exercise is Medicine program. She began working out two or three times a week and worked up to coming four or five days a week.

She works out on the leg press, leg curl, chest press, elliptical and other machines. Ms. Johnson found that she enjoyed exercise as well as being around other people at the gym.

She liked having an Exercise is Medicine exercise specialist answer her questions, encourage her, make sure that she uses the exercise machines safely and properly and tells her when she needs to increase the weights.

It (exercise) becomes addictive, Ms. Johnson said.

Consequently, upon completing the Exercise is Medicine program, she began paying a fee to work with a personal trainer and monthly membership dues to continue exercising by participating in other Olympic Center programs.

Now, Ms. Johnson said, Ive lost a few pounds. Ive gotten much stronger in my legs and my arms. I can tell a huge improvement in my cardio. I just feel great and Im learning how to take better care of myself. I have resolved to be healthy as long as I can as I grow older.

Exercise is Medicine is a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine and focused on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care providers to include physical activity when designing treatment plans for patients, according to its web site.

Exercise is Medicine is based on the belief that physical activity is integral in the prevention and treatments of many diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity, the website reads.

ETMC offers the Exercise is Medicine program at its Tyler facility, along with the satellite facilities at Lake Palestine and Cedar Creek Lake.

Our main goal for this program is to get people healthier, get them to exercising and get them moving, Ms. Kizer said.

The program shows them that it is simple to exercise on their own and prepares them to do it without them having to figure it out, she said.

We want to make sure they understand what they are doing and learn that exercise is an important thing in our life, Ms Kizer said.

People can get into the Exercise is Medicine program two different ways. Their doctor can refer them, or the personcan go online to etmc.org/fitness, fill out a form and get their doctors signature.

Most referrals have come from ETMC doctors but a few have come from the Christus Trinity Mother Frances Health System.During an appointment with a patient, a doctor may give them a referral or fax it to the program.

Staff will schedule the initial appointments upon receiving a doctors referral and prescription for someone to participate. The Exercise is Medicine program bridges the gap between what the doctor recommends for patients to exercise and how to put it into real life terms so that they can do it themselves.

We will help them along the way, Ms. Kizer said.

Exercise can help people improve their health in many ways including decreasing their resting heart rate and blood pressure, lowering their cholesterol level, preventing cancer and helping people get off medication or lower their doses. It also helps increase a persons muscle strength and endurance, Ms. Kizer said.

It will help with many diseases, Ms. Kizer said. A lot of studies ... show it definitely lowers your risk for cancer. It will help keep down pain levels from arthritis. It also helps with prevention of osteoporosis. Its good for weight control. Its great for everything in your body and it helps you live longer.

As of May, 15 people this year had participated in the ETMC Exercise is Medicine program. Sixty-one participated in 2016 and 63 in 2015. Full-time Olympic Center exercise staff have the Exercise is Medicine credential as well as a bachelors degree and national certification from either the American College of Sports Medicine or the American Council on Exercise.

TWITTER: @Tylerpaper

See the article here:
ETMC's Exercise is Medicine program aims to improve health through physical activity - Tyler Morning Telegraph

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