Walk With EaseEvaluation of the Walk With Ease Program for Fall Prevention

Participants the Standard Implementation (SI) model complete a 6 week structured Walk with Ease group exercise program designed to build capacity and function in older adults. Sessions are held 3 days a week for an hour each session. Each session includes a 10 minute warmup including strength/flexibility exercises, a 30 minute bout of walking and a 10 minute cool-down including strength/flexibility exercises. Participants complete standard exercises recommended in the base program.

Participants the Enhanced Implementation (SI) model complete the 6 week structured Walk with Ease group exercise program designed to build capacity and function in older adults. Sessions are held 3 days a week for an hour each session. Each session includes a 10 minute warmup including strength/flexibility exercises, a 30 minute bout of walking and a 10 minute cool-down including strength/flexibility exercises. Participants complete personalized exercises prescribed by a licensed Physical Therapist to help reduce potential risks of falling.

Participants the Standard Training (ST) model receive access to on online portal with weekly tips and education content, goal setting options and a daily tracking system for logging walking and exercises performed. They receive instruction on how to use the portal and are encouraged to use the integrated eBook and resources to supplement the group exercise programming. Weekly video-based lessons provide standard knowledge-based training about how to become more physically active.

Participants the Enhanced Training (ET) model receive access to on online portal with weekly tips and education content, goal setting options and a daily tracking system for logging walking and exercises performed. They receive instruction on how to use the portal and are encouraged to use the integrated eBook and resources to supplement the group exercise programming. Weekly video-based lessons provide habit-formation training about how to form regular habits for physical activity. Participants are paired with a student 'coach' trained in motivational interviewing skills to provide virtual assistance in maintaining motivation during the programming.

The study evaluates two different approaches for group exercise. Participants in the Standard Implementation (SI) group complete the standard Walk with Ease intervention as recommended by the Arthritis Foundation. Participants are guided to learn and perform a series of stretching and strengthening exercises recommended in the base WWE program. Primary BCTs include instruction on how to perform behavior (#4.1) and Graded tasks (#8.7). Participants in the Enhanced Implementation (SI) group complete the standard Walk with Ease intervention as recommended by the Arthritis Foundation. They may perform some of the same exercises as those in the SI group but they are also guided to learn and perform specific exercises prescribed by a physical therapist to improve balance and reduce risks of falling. The primary BCTs include instruction on how to perform behavior (#4.1), Graded tasks (#8.7) from the base program as well as Information on health consequences (#5.1) and Credible source (#9.1).

The study evaluates two different approaches for promoting behavior change. Participants in the Standard Training (ST) model follow the standardized Walk with Ease training to support behavior change. Participants are provided with goal setting tools and an online tracker to monitor their progress. Weekly video-based lessons, resource links and eBook content support behavior change. Primary BCTs include Goal Setting (BCT #1.1) and self-monitoring (BCT#2.3). Participants in the Enhanced Training (ET) model access the same basic content as the ST model, but the weekly education-based videos are replaced with lessons focus on habit-formation training. Student coaches are also assigned to individual participants to support behavior change efforts using motivational interviewing strategies. Thus, participants in the ET model also receive two additional theory- and evidence-based BCTs: (1) habit formation training (BCT#1.2, #1.4, #8.3) and (2 health coaching (BCT# 3.3).