Walk With Ease program participant Ingrid Hardee shares her story with CNN AccentHealth reporter Mariana Hoysa.

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities employee Ingrid Hardee no longer walks with a significant limp and is also losing weight, thanks to The Arthritis Foundation's Walk With Ease program.

 

Hardee was diagnosed with osteoarthritis about three years ago in both knees and describes the pain as "very uncomfortable." However, in just two short weeks, Hardee is seeing the benefits of the program the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) is offering in partnership with the Arthritis Foundation.

 

"I have less pain. I can move more. I can walk without limping," Hardee said during a recent interview with CNN AccentHealth reporter Mariana Hoysa.

 

AccentHealth is the nation's largest health education TV network delivering CNN-produced programming to medical waiting rooms since 1995, according to their website. Hoysa heard of DPH's use of the Walk With Ease program and asked to interview participants for an AccentHealth segment.

 

Susanne Koch, DPH worksite wellness coordinator, said the program really fits DPH's needs.

 

 "We started this program in the middle of February. It's been a great collaboration with the Arthritis Foundation because we needed a program that we could do anywhere, as we have many districts and county health departments all over the state, so this is something we can replicate and duplicate at virtually no cost to us," Koch said.

 

According to studies by the Thurston Arthritis Research Center and University of North Carolina's Institute on Aging, Walk With Ease reduces pain, increases balance and strength, and improves overall health. The program can be experienced in a class setting or at home. Each class session is led by a certified instructor and includes health-related discussion topics followed by self-paced group walks.

 

Kimberly Knighton-Felix, an instructor for DPH's Walk With Ease program, talks to the class while being taped by CNN's AccentHealth.

There are 36 people currently enrolled in the program, which consists of six weeks of classes held three times a week. Participants are split into groups based on mobility for the program's walking component, but movement is just one part of it, Koch said.   

 

"People need to understand that exercise needs to be coupled with proper nutrition," Koch said. "A lot of individuals that have arthritis are carrying around a lot of weight and have the inability to move so we want them to make sure they are eating healthy and eating those whole, good foods."

 

For more information about DPH worksite wellness, click here. For more information about the Arthritis Foundation's Walk With Ease program, click here.