Carol Adams, M.D., P.C.

Walker Baptist Medical Center held another successful health fair at the Jasper Mall Friday giving the community a chance to get free health screenings and information on local health care services.

Vendors were pleased with the turnout this year and the amount of people they reached to inform them on programs and services each one offers.

Autumn Westbrook, lifeguard and aerobics teacher for the Memorial Park Natatorium, said they saw a lot of interest in its water aerobics classes, which are available in Aquafit giving participants a full body workout, Hydro-Motion using resistance, weights and all water equipment, Tone and Trim using water resistance aerobicizing, Waterworks to increase energy for a productive day and Yogacize using yoga exercise and breathing techniques.

“We’ve had a lot of people sign up for classes. It’s good for everybody and for all ages,” she said. “People have been learning about water aerobics and what it can do for them.”

Westbrook said the classes are especially beneficial for people with arthritis.

“I encourage everyone to come out and try it,” she said. “We have an inside heated pool and I think more people should take advantage of it. The pool is also a great opportunity for after school programs and recreation.”

Kelley Orso, who helped give cholesterol and blood sugar screenings, said they did over 200 screenings throughout the day.

“We’ve had a lot of senior citizens, which I think this is geared towards really,” she said.

Vince Adams said even though he has a fear of needles the test was a breeze.

“It was quick and easy and painless,” he said.

Adams said he enjoyed seeing the wide variety of services presented at the fair and meeting new physicians in the area.

“It’s a good public service for the community to get people out and let them know what services are available locally instead of going to Birmingham,” he said. “It’s also good to see new people and a younger medical community.”

Eleanor Herald was impressed with the computer-generated chiropractic exam given by Dr. Brian Manasco.

“(The health fair) was very beneficial and the chiropractic instrument was extremely beneficial,” she said.

Herald said she also liked having new physicians Dr. Candice Terry and Dr. Ty Blackwell give consultations for screening results.

Regina Parsons, admissions and marketing director for Cordova Health and Rehabilitation Center, said they gave out information on types of physical therapy the center offers. She said they had a lot of interest in using the Nintendo Wii for therapy.

“We’ve had older men and women want to come by and try it. People that haven’t tried one tried it and wanted one for themselves instead of their children,” she said.

Anita Mauldin with the Fibromyalgia Support Group said she talked with a lot of people that experience symptoms of the ailment want to join the support group.

“We’ve had a lot of interest. We’ve probably had about 40 to 50 people come by. People would talk to us about their symptoms and know we understand,” she said.

She said the fair also gave the group a chance to network with other health care providers and helped them recruit mental health professionals from AlaHealth and Walker Baptist’s Behavioral Medicine Unit to speak at its meetings on pain management without the aid of medication.