New Weapon In The Fight Against Arthritis Pain and Stiffness

CPW Rehab, a Toledo area physical rehabilitation facility, has added the new Tai Chi from the Arthritis Foundation program to its schedule of medical fitness classes. The program is designed to improve the quality of life for arthritis sufferers utilizing the Sun style of Tai Chi.

Toledo, OH August 26, 2004 -- NW Ohioans have a new weapon in the fight against the pain and stiffness of arthritis. CPW Rehab (Central Park West Rehabilitation Center), a Toledo area physical rehabilitation facility, has added Tai Chi from the Arthritis Foundation to its schedule of medical fitness classes. Arthritis is one of the nations most prevalent chronic health problems. In 2002, 70 million Americans (1 in 3 adults) were diagnosed with arthritis or chronic joint problems. Half of the people suffering with arthritis dont think anything can be done to help them, said Cindy Binkley, RKT and administrator of CPW Rehab. Yet regular exercise is one of the things that can be done to reduce the impact of arthritis on everyday life, stated Ms. Binkley. CPW Rehabs Tai Chi classes will be held on Wednesdays from 12:15 -1:00 pm.

Tai Chi from the Arthritis Foundation is based on the Australian Tai Chi for Arthritis program, which was designed to improve the quality of life for people with arthritis. The program utilizes the Sun style of Tai Chi, one of the four major recognized styles of Tai Chi. This program is really effective for people with arthritis because the exercises help decrease pain and stiffness and improve mobility, breathing and relaxation, said Ms. Binkley. The program consists of twelve movements (6 basic and 6 advanced), a warm up and a cool down. The program is designed to provide continual challenge by reversing direction once participants become familiar with the movements.

The new Tai Chi class is just one of many classes in the facilitys Medical Fitness Program. According to Cindy Binkley, people often find supervised exercise classes more motivational than home exercise programs. We offer a range of supervised exercise programs that are designed to be both affordable and motivating, says Ms. Binkley. The initial response to Tai Chi has been really strong, she adds. Ms. Binkley recently demonstrated the Tai Chi techniques to area senior citizens in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Another Arthritis Foundation program, Arthritis Aquatics, has been a popular program at CPW Rehab since 1989. More recently, in response to public demand, the facility has added a more advanced Arthritis Aquatics Plus class. All of the Medical Fitness programs are overseen by registered kinesiotherapists with the assistance of the rehab aides. These programs are open to the public and require a physician consent form to participate.

About CPW Rehab
CPW Rehab provides physical therapy, aquatic therapy and kinesiotherapy to NW Ohio and SE Michigan. Originally opened as Southwyck Rehabilitation Services in 1987, the clinic was one of the first facilities in the area to include on-site aquatic therapy in its traditional physical rehabilitation services.

The facility's full size rehabilitative pool is heated to 94 and equipped with both ramp and hydraulic chair lift. CPW Rehab is one of few area physical rehabilitation facilitites that offers medical fitness progams for patients completing physical therapy. The facility is handicapped-accessible with convenient, well-lit parking and convenient access to both pool and clinic within the same building. In addition to older adults, injured workers, athletes and individuals with orthopedic and neurological injuries benefit from the range of therapeutic programs the facility offers. For more information, visit www.cpwrehab.com or call 419.841.9622.

Contact:
Allen Mireles            Cindy Binkley
419.878.3023            419.841.9622

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