The Medical Mile on Arkansas Medical News Inc.

The Medical Mile

By: BECKY GILLETTE

Downtown Little Rock Trail Created to Encourage Healthier Lifestyles

LITTLE ROCK—Eleanor E. Kennedy, MD, a cardiologist with Heart Clinic Arkansas, would rather see people out walking, jogging and bicycling on the Medical Mile in downtown Little Rock than on the operating table undergoing heart surgery. "When people have a heart attack, we go and open up arteries," Kennedy said. "But to a certain extent, that's the result of years of unhealthy living. What we're trying to do is a better job in terms of preventive medicine." Kennedy was on the fundraising committee for a downtown trail called the Medical Mile embellished by murals and informational displays to encourage healthy lifestyle habits.

"The idea was to pull the medical community together to support healthier living in our state," said Kennedy, who was quoted recently in a Washington Post article about the nationwide trend of physicians writing outdoor exercise prescriptions for their patients. "Mostly, we're interested in getting the word out to folks how important it is to be out exercising. Exercise is a lifestyle choice that builds on itself, and leads to better health."

Arkansas has one of the country's highest rates of stroke and heart disease, which is linked to a high percentage of the population being overweight with unhealthy diets, a tendency to be sedentary and high rates of tobacco consumption. Encouraging regular exercise is good not only for helping people avoid serious illnesses, but hospitals, insurance companies and the state as a whole benefit from lower medical costs and the increased productivity of state residents.

Scientific research has shown that if you build trails and other places for people to exercise, it does have a beneficial impact on encouraging people to get active.

"It is like the movie, 'Field of Dreams,'" Kennedy said. "If you build it, they will come. Science shows that is what happens."

Organizers got substantial support from local hospitals including St. Vincent Doctors Hospital, Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas Medical Center and Baptist Health. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield also helped, as did the cities of Little Rock and North Little Rock. Other contributors included individual physicians, clinics and dieticians. The trail also had the support of the National Park Service's Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, Arkansas Department of Health, Arkansas Parks and Tourism, and Pulaski County.

The Medical Mile is more than a trail. The outdoor health museum includes murals and educational displays about exercise, nutrition and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

"The displays are about all things great and small to educate people about matters of good health," Kennedy said.

The Medical Mile starts in one of the most popular and scenic areas of Little Rock. An entry plaza donated by St. Vincent's Doctors Hospital marks the beginning of the trail in the River Market District that then goes west along the Arkansas River.

While primarily designed for locals, the trail is also a benefit to out-of-town visitors. The trail goes by the famous Peabody Hotel and joins the eastern end of the Little Rock side of the Arkansas River Trail that runs east behind the Discovery Museum and Arkansas Game and Fish and on to the Clinton Presidential Library.

Kennedy believes in encouraging people to exercise outdoors even if the weather isn't perfect.

"When you learn you can deal with weather a little cold or misty, it increases your confidence," Kennedy said. "This is particularly important from someone shaken from the whole idea of having a heart attack. It's common for people after a heart attack to become discouraged and depressed. Knowing you can still successfully meet challenges helps in fighting the depression that is common after heart attacks and heart surgery."

Exercise has been shown to increase endorphins that create a sense of well being, so it is good mentally as well as physically. Outdoor exercise also creates opportunities for social interactions that are also a benefit to mental health. And, it is very important to note that a recent study suggests exercise may delay the onset of dementia.

"I would love it if that study got more press," Kennedy said. "A lot of people are so afraid of Alzheimer's disease."

The American Heart Association's standard recommendation is for a minimum 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise four days a week. Longer exercise periods are recommended for people who want to lose weight. Kennedy recommends people with the time and motivation also consider adding some strength and flexibility training to their regular routine.

"That's the icing on the cake," she said. "Cardio is the foundation."

Dr. Eleanor Kennedy is seen taking her own advice exercising on the Medical Mile in downtown Little Rock. (Photo credit Neemah Esmailepour.)