Supporting Arthritis Programming at YMCAs - December 2024 Newsletter
From June through September 2024, 6 local YMCAs participated in NJYSA’s arthritis pilot program, receiving funding to implement one of three Arthritis-Appropriate Evidence-Based Interventions (AAEBIs): Walk with Ease (WWE), Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance ®(TJQMBB), or the Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program (AFAP).
- Walk with Ease: A 6-week walking program that incorporates health education, stretching and strengthening exercises, and motivational strategies.
- Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance®: A 12-to-24-week research-based balance training regimen designed for older adults at risk of falling and people with balance disorders.
- Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program: A 6-to-10-week warm water aquatic program for individuals with arthritis.
64 participants, ranging in age from 46 to 85, completed one of the three programs in full, with the greatest number of participants completing the aquatic program, AFAP. The participating YMCAs included
Gloucester County YMCA, Hamilton Area YMCA, Lakeland Hills YMCA, Garfield YMCA, Ridgewood YMCA, and YMCA of Montclair. Three of the YMCAs above plan to continue offering their AAEBI programming, with NJYSA looking to further expand the programs’ reach to more YMCAs and NJ residents in the future.
"The program has been a game-changer for me. I’ve noticed a significant increase in my stamina and can now walk longer distances...The exercises and techniques we've learned have truly made a positive impact on my daily life.” - WWE Participant