Ms. Lurie walks in both of Oyster Bay's 9 to 10 a.m. supervised walking programs.
A Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association research initiative, called Engaging Consumers @ Work, finds that adding a competitive element to work weight-loss or walking programs may pay off in terms of engaging employees.
Walking is a familiar, convenient, and free form of health-enhancing physical activity that can be integrated into working life and sustained into older age however workplace walking programs targeted at older workers have not been evaluated.
For example, in a group of men with low-grade prostate cancer placed on plant based diets along with stress reduction and walking programs, 453 genes controlling tumor growth were less active and 48 genes related to tumor suppression were more active after only 3 months.
Determining if the intervention is beneficial may facilitate improved adherence with walking programs in LTC facilities.
In summary, the extent of the research-to-date examining the effects of walking programs is equivocal and limited.
Walking programs have been set up in a number of workplaces and have proven to be effective.
Even among the studies that used walking, programs have varied in content, duration of sessions and length of the intervention [ 17].
A second advantage is that the clinical interface gives clinical providers ongoing feedback and monitoring regarding the progress of patients' walking programs.
Although limited by non-random samples and unblinded outcome measurement, earlier studies of walking programs have been found to be beneficial in improving walking endurance [ 21], ambulation status [ 22], and urinary incontinence [ 23].
Comparing the outcomes of our study to those of other endurance exercise interventions, e.g. walking programs, may allow at least first conclusions regarding the impact on outcomes like fatigue and quality of life.
