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Senior citizens benefit
from The first session of the Travel for Fitness, which was held at three of Garrett County’s senior centers, ended recently and registration is already under way for a second session. Elaine Kackley, the fitness director for the Area Agency on Aging, worked with 48 county seniors in Grantsville, Friendsville and Oakland to improve health and increase flexibility through a 12-week program that she developed. “I was really pleased with the response from our seniors. They want to improve their health and are willing to work at it,” she said. Many of the seniors in the fitness outreach program have medical conditions, which must be considered in developing any fitness routines, Kackely explained. “Of the people participating in the classes, 18 reported having bone and joint and problems associated with arthritis; five reported having had heart attacks; 23 are being treated for hypertension; nine have been diagnosed with diabetes I or II and 24 have high cholesterol,” she said. Kackely, who has been directing the Flowery Vale Senior Health and Fitness Center since it opened two years ago, is versed in designing programs that address the health needs of older citizens. “We are mindful of the individual’s limits and work to stretch those limits for each person. Six weeks into the program participants reported that their range of motion had improved and that they had less pain in their joints,” she said, adding that 75 percent of those in each class are doing 20 minutes of aerobic activity, along with stretching, flexibility and resistance training each session. Resistance bands, light hand-held weights, a “balance beam” and a stability ball make up the fitness equipment used for the outreach program. Kackley loads all this in her vehicle and drives from center to center each week to deliver this specialized health management program to county seniors. “We are really pleased with the response to and success of this program,” said Ronnie Padmos, of the Area Agency on Aging. Kackely is currently registering seniors for the next 12-week session to be held Oakland, Grantsville and Friendsville. For more information, call the Kackley at (301) 746-8050.
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