34 THE COURIER SUN • HEALTH • DECEMBER 5, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com Exercise program helps senior participants health BY ROBIN FRANK Experts say it’s never too late to reap the benefits of exercise, and a program offered in Flushing senior centers is improving quality of life for many older adults. The exercise program, offered by the Hospital for Special Surgery, has helped decrease pain and make activities of daily living easier for many participants, according to a hospital study. The research was presented at the American Public Health Association Annual Meeting on November 5 in Boston. The Hospital for Special Surgery, which is located in Manhattan, also has a Physician Office in Fresh Meadows. The older Asian population in New York City grew by 64 percent from 2000 to 2010, and one in four seniors lived in poverty in 2010. “This population is at risk for arthritis and osteoporosis,” said Laura Robbins, DSW, senior vice president of Education and Academic Affairs at Special Surgery. “They are more than twice as likely to have no health insurance coverage compared to other major race and ethnic groups. Cultural and linguistic barriers limit access to healthcare services.” To address these issues, Hospital for Special Surgery developed the Asian Community Bone Health Initiative, which is comprised of culturally-relevant, bilingual education and exercise classes. The initiative plays an important role in enabling the hospital to meet the musculoskeletal health needs of Asian older adults living in New York City, according to Sandra Goldsmith, director of Public and Patient Education. Six eight-week sessions of the Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP) and three eight-week yoga exercise classes were conducted by bilingual instructors at four senior centers in Flushing and in Manhattan’s Chinatown. The programs promote self-management of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions through exercise. The Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program offered by hospital instructors consisted mainly of chair-based exercises. The yoga sessions featured beginner yoga classes. The goal was to help Asian seniors decrease muscle and joint pain, reduce stiffness and fatigue, improve balance, reduce falls and increase physical activity. The program was made possible, in part, by a grant from the Fan Fox & Leslie R. Samuels Foundation. A survey was distributed before and after the exercise classes to evaluate pain, function and other health indicators, and 119 participants responded. Many reported that their pain intensity dropped and interfered less with their quality of life. “The study results indicate that the hospital’s Bone Health Initiative has a positive impact on the musculoskeletal health of the Asian senior population,” said Huijuan Huang, program coordinator. “While further research is needed, we will continue to offer culturally-sensitive programs to this community to help seniors stay active, decrease pain and improve their overall health.” The next eight-week yoga session will start on December 5 at the Selfhelp Innovative Senior Center on Kissena Boulevard in Flushing. M o u n t S i n a i Q u e e n S Free Health & Wellness Events Managing Your Stress During the Holidays Wednesday, 10:30 am December Ingrid Hardin, LMSW | Don’t let stress limit your enjoyment of the holidays. Shake stress off with our helpful recommendations. JVL-Dimotsis-Vallone Senior Center at George T. Douris Tower, 27-40 Hoyt Avenue South, Astoria, 11102 Latest News in Women’s Health: What Every Woman Should Know tuesday, 6 pm Bradley Safro, MD | Join Dr. Safro, Instructor, Obstetrics, Gynocology and Reproductive Science, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as he discusses the latest methods and most effective gynecologic health screenings for women. George T. Douris Tower, 27-40 Hoyt Avenue South, 2nd Floor Community Room, Astoria, 11102 The Affordable Care Act and New York’s State of Health Wednesday, 6 pm Kathleen Shure, MPA | If you have questions about the Affordable Care Act and our state health benefit exchanges/marketplace, where you will be able to choose an insurance provider, this information session is for you. George T. Douris Tower, 27-40 Hoyt Avenue South, 2nd Floor Community Room, Astoria, 11102 Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room: Where to Go? thursday, 6 pm Mark Kindschuh, MD | When faced with a medical problem that necessitates immediate care, it is often hard to assess whether it is truly an emergency, or an urgent medical issue. This lecture will help you understand that critical difference. Refreshments will be served. Avalon Riverview, Community Room, 2-01 50th Avenue, Long Island City, 11101 Healthy Holiday Eating Friday, 10:30 am Monika Saigal, RD | Learn how to make healthier food choices and improve your eating habits this holiday season. JVL-Dimotsis-Vallone Senior Center at George T. Douris Tower, 27-40 Hoyt Avenue South, Astoria, 11102 Visit mshq.org/events for information on Yoga Classes and Blood Pressure Screenings. Call 718-267-4333 to register for events and screenings. S M t W t F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 1 2 13 14 15 16 71 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 DeCeMBeR 2013 WaLK-inS WeLCoMe! Some restrictions apply. Please see individual events. For a physician referral, call 800-YouR-MDS or visit www.mshq.org/FaD
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