Health district hosts 'Walk With a Doc'
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 7 years, 2 months AGO
Panhandle Health District is inviting the community to get outside and walk with their new “Walk With a Doc” program.
“Walk with a Doc” is a national program that encourages people of all ages and physical abilities to start moving and having fun while connecting with others. The walks are led by physicians and health care providers in the community. During the walks, participants are encouraged to speak with the health care provider giving people an opportunity to speak with a physician outside of a traditional office setting.
The walks are completely free and all are welcome to join in.
In Sandpoint, the walks begin at 5:15 p.m. every Thursday evening at the Sand Creek Trail in Sandpoint and at 8 a.m. on the first and third Saturday of the month. The weekly Thursday walks, which meet at the cement bear statue, are led by Jane Hoover, a family practice nurse practitioner at the Family Health Center.
In Clark Fork, the group meets at the high school every Monday and Thursday at 3:10 p.m. The group meets at the trail next to the high school. The walks are led by Heather Margaret, M.D., family and lifestyle medicine.
“Rain or shine, people are always there to walk with me and it is so fun,” said Hoover. “We have walked in all sorts of weather, really hot, cold, wet and all of it has been a bonding experience for the group. One of my favorite walks was early on when we were unprepared for weather. We huddled under the bridge hoping the rain would stop. Now we bring umbrellas and a few extras, so everyone can enjoy the walk no matter the weather.”
Each walk includes a short presentation on a health topic of interest. Then the group starts walking at whatever pace they are comfortable with. There are benches along the way for those who need to rest. You can visit www.walkwithadoc.org to view the schedule and see who the lead healthcare provider is for each week.
According to the American Heart Association, walking has the lowest dropout rate of any physical activity. Walking is low-impact; easier on the joints than running. It is safe – with a doctor’s OK – for people with orthopedic ailments, heart conditions, and those who are more than 20 percent overweight. Research has shown that individuals could gain two hours of life for each hour of regular exercise.
Information: Nanci Jenkins, MS, RDN, LD; Panhandle Health District, 208-263-5159