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Press Releases
For more information, contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Lewisburg, Pa. (September 15, 2005) -- Walking is the number one physical activity for older Americans and recommended by doctors as a way to help lower blood pressure, aid weight loss and strengthen the heart. To help individuals incorporate a walking activity into easy daily routines, Playworld Systems Inc., a family owned business headquartered in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania created LifeTrail, a series of ten wellness stations installed along existing walking paths designed to improve balance, muscle strength, flexibility and overall cardio-vascular health. |
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“The LifeTrail stations were developed with the health and safety of users in mind. All activities are age appropriate and grab bars and non-slip treads are installed on the appropriate stations. Dr. Geoffrey Godbey and Dr. David Proctor of Pennsylvania State University aided in the creation of LifeTrail. They saw it as an opportunity to apply their academic research to a real world setting resulting in a holistic approach to wellness that combines walking with a variety of other exercises while encouraging social interaction in an outdoor setting. "There’s a tendency to think of older people in parks as being relatively passive and that’s not necessarily true," says Dr. Godbey. "A lot of exercise equipment hasn’t been designed that’s specifically geared toward adults age 50 and above." "Seniors need to be proactive on behalf of their own health," said Dr. Proctor, who has studied aging and exercise for fifteen years. "A well-designed fitness program is effective preventative medicine for the aging process. We’ve seen active older adults respond very positively to the LifeTrail systems that have been installed." Each station has two activity panels and a third panel providing health information to make the experience educational and reinforce the health benefits of each activity. The activities offer two different levels of challenge and include upper and lower body warm-ups, forearm rolls, bench steps and standing push-ups. Five of the stations offer wheelchair accessible options. The ten different Wellness Stations may be spaced strategically as breakpoints along a walking route or, if space is a concern, they can be clustered in groups. “Because the stations create stopping points along a walking path, they also become social gathering points where people can exercise with friends or meet new acquaintances,” said Ron Derk, sales and marketing director for Playworld Systems. “LifeTrail works in a variety of settings and its appeal cuts across a variety of age groups as well as socio-economic backgrounds." During field testing at Cleveland Metroparks, an urban public park in Ohio, older women routinely began using the equipment while walking with their grandchildren. Metroparks Executive Director Vern Hatenburg said, "The trail has proved useful to all ages, especially senior populations who find the stations accommodating to their physical abilities and strength. Each station is aesthetically attractive and provides informative health messages." At a retirement community, in rural Lebanon County, Pa., residents from their late 60’s up into their 80’s use the LifeTrail path. Michael Deveney, wellness coordinator at Pennsylvania’s Cornwall Manor continuing care facility, said that an existing 7/8 mile walking course provided a natural spot for the wellness stations. He added that the route had regular, passionate users. "It’s added another dimension to our wellness project," said Deveney. The stations are available in two landscape-themed color combinations, and panels can be customized to highlight interesting facts about a park or facility or display a map of the trail. A park or retirement facility can also bring in a partner to sponsor LifeTrail and recognize that partner’s contribution by including their name or logo on a panel. Posts and grab bars are made of galvanized, triple-coated steel painted with super-durable polyester powder coated paint that has been weather-tested for color and gloss retention. Panels are constructed of fiberglass-reinforced plastic that is easily cleaned. Playworld Systems is the commercial leader in customized recreation equipment expertly designed to provide fun and challenging activities that increase mental and physical wellness. With more than 30 years of experience, the family-owned company offers a variety of recreational solutions that develop physical strength, balance and aerobic activity, as well as enhancing social skills. Through its five brands - Playworld, PlayDesigns, Woodward Ramps and Rails, LifeTrail and Climbing Boulders - Playworld Systems is recognized by its customers as a one-stop shop that offers the most innovative, creative and imaginative recreational products in the world. For more information about LifeTrail visit www.playworldsystems.com.
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