Patrick Ervin
patrickervin@ddtonline.com
People from various corners of the community joined one another at the Hodding Carter Memorial YMCA track for the internationally practiced, Walk with a Doc program on Saturday March 11. Second year family medicine resident Teresa Horst and her colleagues at the Delta Health System Family Medicine Clinic provided expert advice and extolled the virtues of Walk with a Doc for the participants. “One of the best things that you can do to promote your overall health is walking,” Horst explained. “Walking helps prevent and cure diseases such as high blood pressure and obesity and helps lower the risk of cancer. It also promotes your mental health by reducing stress and improving your mood and energy levels.”
As the eager group of about three dozen or so signed in and received a quick orientation about the program. Horst explained that at the end of the hour-long program that there would be opportunities for prizes. The group had already received their free pedometers and heard about the extra incentives associated with attendance. “The CDC recommends that when you walk that you do the talk test to measure the level of intensity,” Horst explained. “If you can walk and talk but can’t walk and sing, you are right at the proper intensity level that you need.”
The event which is scheduled for the second Saturday in each month drew people who showed up for various reasons. The Greenville Fire Department had about a dozen of its firefighters taking part in something that is an occupational mandate. “We are required to workout an hour a day,” said Tinesha Titus, a member of the GFD. “My normal routine includes a mile and a half run each day, weight lifting, simulating dragging a body out of a building with weights, cardio, push ups and sit ups. The Walk with a Doc satisfies the mile and a half run.”
Other participants saw Walk with a Doc as an opportunity to improve the quality of life and promote health and longevity. “I was just driving by and decided to stop and participate,” said Jennie Henderson. “Aging is tough and I try to stay active and healthy to be around for my family. I usually run three to five miles a couple of times a week.”
For one more participant, the program was something that was convenient and timely. “I missed my yoga this morning,” said Dr. Shabana Karim as she stepped onto the track. “So, this will definitely work as a substitute.”
Horst explained that the residency program has 20 residents and that the Walk with a Doc program is scheduled to take place monthly over the next calendar year. The next Walk with a Doc will be April 8 at 10 a.m. at the Hodding Carter Memorial YMCA track.
