The holidays are a time when many people reflect on the past year and pledge to improve their commitment to healthy living. When beginning to explore options for initiating an exercise program or maintaining current fitness level by using a variety of new activity strategies, consider non-traditional exercise programs that have been beneficial to some populations of people with disabilities. I first thought of writing about this topic when seeing an advertisement for Dance Detour (see this month's Community Voice) and thought this could intrigue people who had not previously been active, but who may be looking for something to get them interested in and excited about exercise. I spoke recently with Alana Wallace, founder of Dance Detour, who has observed in herself and others that dance can decrease stress and increase muscle tone, physical endurance, and self-confidence. She explained that dance may also increase brain activity and stimulate memory through the use of choreography, and help prevent or lessen the effects of secondary conditions such as depression and social isolation.

To read the entire column, go to: http://www.ncpad.org/521/2438/Focus~on~Secondary~Condition~Prevention~~Non-Traditional~Exercise~as~a~Way~of~Preventing~Secondary~
Conditions~-~Part~I.