Neal Center - Arthritis Foundation looking for study participants

Star Staff Reports
The Council on Aging/Neal Senior Center is working with the North Carolina Arthritis Foundation to allow adults in Cleveland County to take part  in an exercise study.

The Senior Center is looking for 10-15 adults, age 18 and up who suffer from arthritis and would like to be involved in the study.
Walk with Ease is a 6-week educational program designed to encourage walking as a beneficial part of a healthy lifestyle.  All participants receive a course manual and can choose either to attend classes as a group (1 hour class, 3 times per week) or to independently read and complete the activities themselves.

The first meeting of the Cleveland County Walk With Ease Program will be held at the Neal Senior Center, 100 T.R. Harris Drive, Shelby, June 23 at 1 p.m. to collect data for the purpose of the study. 
Dates and times will then be set for persons interested in participating as a group for the 6 weeks.

Data is gathered on participants before and after the course in order to judge effectiveness. Data gathering for The Walk with Ease Program will consist of two parts, (1) a questionnaire about health status, attitudes and walking behaviors, and (2) some tests that measure physical function.

All of the instruments in the questionnaire and the physical tests have undergone extensive development and are widely used in medical and psychosocial research. 

Questionnaire: Each participant will enter his or her answers by computer, with each answer being multiple choice. Computer knowledge or skill is not required.

Physical function tests:  The physical function tests do not require great skill, endurance or athleticism. 
If you are interested or know someone who could benefit from this study, please contact the Senior Center at 704-482-3488 by June 18. Only the first 15 to register will be admitted into this trial.