The Arthritis Foundation was able to create a walking program which can be accomplished in six weeks’ time. This means that the person who has arthritis will not be under so much pain when exercising. He will also be able to decrease the extent of the disabilities that occur as a result of arthritis. Apart from these, the person will also be able to enhance his sense of balance as well as his strength and stamina.
Walk with Ease, which is otherwise referred to as the WWE, is a walking program that is based on a certain community. The people will be motivated and encouraged to implement tangible action when it comes to realizing the goals and progress of a person in his efforts to improve his physical fitness.
Studies about the Walk with Ease Program
Several researches have been put up in order to gather relevant pieces of information about the Walk with Ease program as well as with the general concepts of arthritis and exercise particularly walking. These researches have yielded results that point out that most people with arthritis are unable to move their bodies adequately and are unable to exercise because of the wrong notion that exercise will worsen one’s arthritic pain.
A total of 462 individuals took part in this study. They were asked to make a choice between two different varieties of fitness walking. 40 % of this number chose to engage in a walking exercise where one will be working with a fitness instructor. However, approximately 60 percent of these 462 prefer the use of the Walk with Ease Program which was created in the year 2009 by the Arthritis Foundation.
Prior to the start of the conduction of the study, all of those who decided to be a part of it were assessed for physical fitness. The data and measurements that have been taken at this time will be noted and then used to evaluate one’s program as he advances to the different levels of the Walk with Ease program.
There are some functions tests that were given at the start of the program and at the end of it. These are:
- Rising from sitting down on the chair
- Maintaining a standing position with only one right or left leg
- 2-minute Stepping in pace exercises
For this group of individuals, these exercises detailed in the Walk with Ease program are highly possible. In fact, most arthritic individuals were able to minimize discomfort by up to 20%.