Walk With Ease (Self-Directed)
The Arthritis Foundation’s Walk With Ease (WWE) Self-Directed arthritis physical activity program was developed by researchers at the Thurston Arthritis Research Center, UNC–Chapel Hill. The primary audience is adults who may be medically or self-diagnosed with arthritis or with other chronic conditions and wish to be more physically active. The program is offered in English and Spanish. The WWE guidebook leads participants through the program, including setting goals, identifying barriers, conducting self-assessments, performing stretching and strengthening exercises, and walking. Participants are encouraged to walk at least 3 times per week, working up to 30 minutes per session or more.
The self-directed program addresses four primary goals:
(a) to provide education about safe and effective physical activity for people with arthritis
(b) to provide basic information about arthritis and arthritis symptom management
(c) to guide participants through key behavior change steps to increase physical activity
(d) to provide participants with a step-by-step approach to increasing and maintaining physical activity levels based on the latest research and recommendations
Program Planning
- Arthritis Foundation | WWE page
- Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) | Walk With Ease Leader Training
Program Implementation
- SNAP-Ed | WWE Toolkit
- Arthritis Foundation | WWE in the Worksite
- Springfield College Department of Physical Activity | WWE Student Coaching Manual v2.0
- OAAA | Arthritis Foundation’s WWE Toolkit
Data Collection
Sustainability
- OAAA | Implementation and Sustainability of the Walk With Ease Program for Arthritis in Community-Based Organizations recorded webinar
- UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health Undergraduate Thesis | Factors Affecting Implementation and Sustainability of the Walk With Ease Program for Adults With Arthritis in Community Organizations Receiving Short-Term Grants
- Iowa State University U-TuRN | Walk With Ease
- American College of Rheumatology 2018 Meeting Abstracts | Helping a Nonurban Community Walk With Ease: A Feasibility Pilot Study of an Arthritis Activity Intervention
Enhance®Fitness
Enhance®Fitness is a low-cost, evidence-based group exercise and falls prevention program that helps older adults at all levels of fitness become more active, energized, and empowered. You can recognize an EnhanceFitness class by the relaxed atmosphere and the laughter in the room—whether offered in-person or remotely. A full hour of fun, EnhanceFitness focuses on dynamic cardiovascular exercise, strength training, balance, and flexibility, led by a certified instructor with special training to bring out the physical best from older adults.
Program Planning
- Enhance®Fitness | What is EnhanceFitness?
- Enhance®Fitness | Become an EnhanceFitness Instructor
- Enhance®Fitness | Become an EnhanceFitness Affiliate
Program Implementation
- Enhance®Fitness | Why Choose EnhanceFitness?
- Research article | Patel, K., Hoffman, E., Phelan, E., Gell, N. (2022). Remotely Delivered Exercise to Rural Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Pilot Study. ACR Open Rheumatology. DOI:10.1002/acr2.11452.
- Research article | Gell, N., Hoffman, E., Patel, K. (2021). JMIR Aging – Technology Support Challenges and Recommendations for Adapting an Evidence-Based Exercise Program for Remote Delivery to Older Adults: Exploratory Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Publications. https://aging.jmir.org/2021/4/e27645?fbclid=IwAR3wQ8Q2M4ig4SojNBCVbpUH829YeSFi2ag0Jjlksw4Wugh1PrjBTr8saPw
Data Collection
- NCOA | Data Collection Tools for Falls Prevention Programs
- Sounds Generations | Sound Generations (the organization that provides EnhanceFitness program support nationally) offers a low-cost, user-friendly web-based application, the EnhanceFitness Online Data Entry System (EF ODES). This application enables delivery sites and EF instructors to track the information they need to know to show how their participants improve through time.
Sustainability
As an ongoing program that aims to become a long-term part of its participants’ lives, the sustainability of EnhanceFitness is an essential feature. Project Enhance participates in research and evaluation to ensure that the program’s content and its delivery support materials are continuously maintained and updated. EnhanceFitness is always seeking to expand its existing partnerships with MedicareAdvantage plans and supplemental insurance payors to create reimbursement opportunities for EF delivery sites. Details can be found in the affiliate portal.
- Enhance®Fitness | Testimonials
Fit Strong! (@Home)
Fit & Strong! is a community-based physical activity and behavior change intervention offering stretching, balance, aerobic, and endurance exercises. Health education, problem-solving, and goal setting also are important program components. Fit & Strong! Is aimed at adults with osteoarthritis as well as sedentary older adults who experience lower-extremity joint pain and stiffness. Fit & Strong! classes are 90 minutes 3 times per week for 8 weeks and are delivered by a certified exercise instructor.
Program Planning
- Fit & Strong! | Introduction
- Fit & Strong! | Instructor Training & Certification
- Fit & Strong! | Offering Fit & Strong! Instructor registration
Program Implementation
Data Collection
- Community Tool Box | Developing an Evaluation Plan
- CDC Program Performance and Evaluation Office | CDC Evaluation Documents, Workbooks and Tools
- NCOA | Data Collection Tools for Falls Prevention Programs
Sustainability
- Fit & Strong! | Testimonials
Access Date | Quiz Result | Score | Actions |
---|