MOSES LAKE — The Washington Department of Health has started a new online program designed to help people manage and possibly prevent chronic conditions by going for a walk. The “Walk with Ease” program information is available in English and Spanish.

“Walking is still one of the best exercises out there for overall health (benefits) and low injury,” said Dale Kemper, manager of Evolve Fitness in Moses Lake.

“Walk with Ease” is free. People can access the portal at https://bit.ly/DOHWalkwithEase.

“Walk with Ease” is a six-week, self-directed program that comes with a guidebook and walking journal, according to a DOH press release.

“After you enroll, you will register with a start date of your choice and begin walking three days a week,” the press release said. “Log your progress in your journal as you go.

“Participants can also use the online portal to access videos and log their progress,” it said.

The idea is to show people how to exercise safely, develop a plan that meets their needs, help manage pain and stay motivated to keep exercising, the press release said. The goal is to help people better manage chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and arthritis, among others, or avoid them altogether.

Walking, or any exercise, helps people keep moving by keeping muscles active that might otherwise get weak, he said. Muscles that help keep people upright benefit from a good walk, uphill and downhill as well as on level ground.

Kemper cited hip muscles as one example - weakness in those muscles can make it harder to stand up straight. And the weakness can get worse over time, he said.

“‘Motion is the lotion’ is one the best ways to say it,” Kemper said.

A regular exercise schedule, whatever it is, provides cumulative benefits, in terms of calories burned and the increased ability to keep moving.

“It all adds up,” Kemper said.

Walking is one of those exercises that can be done for free outside, and Kemper said he would encourage people to walk outside at least part of the time.

If walking isn’t the right exercise, Kemper said, people should find something else they like to do and do it.

“Whatever it is you love to do, get active,” he said.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached at [email protected].