Evidence-based Programs with
Community Health Partners

What is an Evidence-based Program?

Evidence-based programs (EBPs) offer proven ways to promote health and prevent disease. They are based on research and provide documented health benefits, so you can be confident they work. Participants in EBPs can lower their risk of chronic diseases and falls—or improve the long-term effects these chronic diseases and falls have on their health.

What is a Medical Program Instructor?

A medical program instructor is a CHP staff person with additional training so they can work with members/populations that have complex medical histories or health risk. Medical program instructors lead evidence- based education and exercise programs. Additional training may include specific certifications to teach a class, experience working with special populations, health coach training, education in a medical profession, and continuing education hours.

How To Access Evidence-based Programs

If you have risk for disease, suffer from a medical condition, or have functional limitations that make it difficult to get around, you can benefit from our medical program services. We start with either a program orientation or an evaluation with a physical therapist depending on your condition. This allows us to delve into the unique needs and goals of each person resulting in a plan of action that ensures safe exercise and addresses specific limitations and health risks. Your physician will receive the results of the initial evaluation. You may have 1-2 more visits with the physical therapist to learn your individualized exercise program for land and/or water. If you don’t require the services of a physical therapist, then you will be able to start your evidence-based program after your orientation and once YMCA membership is initiated. You will then have access to all the YMCA of Greater Des Moines locations and their programs.

Click here for more information from the YMCA web site.

Evidence Based Programs

Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP)

DEEP is a Medicare-approved, evidence-based diabetes self-management and education program for people with prediabetes or diabetes.  The program spans 6 weeks and each week participants attend a 90-minute class.  Topics may include how to control your blood sugar levels, low-cost healthy meals, ways to become more active, how to manage medications, and answers to specific questions from each participant.  At the end of the program, graduates will receive tools to support the new lifestyle and self-management skills they learned in class.

Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention

Tai Chi is practiced throughout the world as a means to improve the quality of life for all individuals. Tai Chi for Fall Prevention is an evidence-based form of exercise used to relieve pain, improve health and reduce fall risk. It is approved by the Centers for Disease Control as a fall prevention program and is easy to learn and appropriate for all ages.

Move Well Today

Move Well Today is a program for individuals diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. It is an evidence-based exercise and education program designed to help people better manage their condition by learning to track changes in glucose levels while progressing exercise parameters.

Delay the Disease

Delay the Disease is a Parkinsons specific exercise program designed to help ease symptoms. This group exercise class is designed to enhance functional mobility and help delay the progression of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders. This class can help improve walking, reduce fatigue, enhance posture and stability, increase endurance, decrease the risk of falls and promote self-confidence and independence.

Cycling to Restore Health

This group cycling class can help improve functional mobility and lead to greater independence in daily living. Classes are designed for people with chronic medical conditions to help build strength, improve fitness and possibly reduce symptoms. No prior cycling experience is needed.

Heart Health

The Heart Health Program is a professionally-supervised program designed for those who suffer from heart conditions, such as history of heart attack, coronary artery disease, angina, chronic heart failure, heart surgeries and procedures, or have risk factors for heart disease. This program works on improving stamina, strength, balance, and mobility to recover from a cardiac event, reduce risks of future heart problems or improve overall health. This class meets the criteria for Cardiac Rehab Phase 3.

Aquatics to Restore Health

This group water exercise program can help lessen symptoms of chronic disease. The program is designed to improve balance, flexibility, strength, and walking ability through water’s buoyant environment. Water allows the freedom to move and exercise with more ease and less pain. Caregivers are welcome to participate.

Above + Beyond Cancer

Exercise program for cancer survivors to build strength, balance, flexibility, and recover stamina through all stages of survivorship. Although methods of cancer detection and treatment have improved, the side effects of treatment can cause profound debilitation that may linger years after treatment ends. Exercise during and after cancer treatment is safe, and it minimizes many of the negative physical and emotional side effects. Aquatic exercise allows the freedom to move and exercise with more ease and less pain. Aquatic exercise can also assist with edema management when extremities are underwater.  More information about Above + Beyond Cancer can be found here.

Medical Programming – Pool Time

This class is for medical members who may need the guidance and supervision of specially trained staff to help them with their independent water exercise program and for ongoing therapeutic support.

Yoga for Chronic Pain

Because chronic pain is a mind-body phenomenon, many researchers and chronic-pain sufferers are turning to yoga for pain relief. Yoga integrates physical movement, which can play an important role in pain recovery, with mindful practices that address cognitive and emotional components of pain. Studies show that yoga can reduce not only the experience of pain itself but also the emotional distress.

Ai Chi to Move Better

This group water exercise program can help lessen symptoms of chronic disease, including pain and stiffness. The combination of deep breathing and slow broad movements has also been shown to improve balance and reduce anxiety. Ai Chi is a new way of moving for people who have developed incorrect movement patterns following an injury, pain or surgery. Water allows the freedom to move and exercise with more ease and less discomfort.