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Teton County

Strength -- Physical Meets Mental

Published: 2020
By Jane Wolery
The StrongPeople program helps participants increase muscle strength, balance and flexibility as well as manage or avoid chronic diseases. The program, originally designed around physical strength, has shown some notable mental health benefits. Montana evaluations show: • 83% reported strengthened social ties. • 77% felt less stressed. • 76% felt less anxious. • 73% reported a decrease in chronic pain. • 71% slept better. • 95% felt stronger. • 94% intended to engage in similar physical activity routines outside of class. • 89% reported improved balance. • 85% reported moving more easily and having increased stamina. When MSU Extension Agent Jane Wolery started teaching the classes throughout the county more than a decade ago, she anticipated better strength and balance helping people stay independent longer and reducing the need for costly assisted living. While the mental uplift was not the primary focus, she has now come to see it as a main component of the class. Wolery said, “I had no idea the additional ways the class would build strength in people – mentally, socially and throughout the community.” One participant in her classes progressed from using a walker at the start of the class to using a cane and is now walking unassisted because her legs are stronger, and her balance is better. Wolery observed a marked improvement in the participant’s outlook as well. A caregiver who attended the class with her mother, who has dementia, noted that the class gave them something they could enjoy together, provided socialization, and stabilized her mother’s mood, making caregiving much easier. Wolery provides what she calls “Extension Extras” at every class. Participants get a healthy dose of education while lifting weights and doing squats. Topics include financial management, nutrition, mental health, estate/legacy planning, food safety and preparation and more. Resources are provided at each class and participants were encouraged to share the information with others, which built knowledge along with strength. The StrongPeople class in Teton County was featured as a solution to “Graying Pains” with the Solutions Journalism Network nationally and on Montana Public Radio. As a result, requests for StrongPeople in Montana increased and MSU Extension provided training to certify 12 new instructors across the state.
Teton County Sheriff Keith Van Setten was one of many people who participated in the StrongPeople class.