PROJECT PROFILES ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
Client: Great Yarmouth NHS, UK Supplier: Technogym
A
s part of the Technogym Wellness ethos, the company is involved in a number of community engagement projects designed to increase physical activity and wellbeing. One of the most
recent projects was carried out in association with Great Yarmouth NHS, which implemented Technogym’s Easyline into community hubs. These hubs – located in existing community centres, care
homes, libraries and so on – have been geared up to offer exercise intervention programmes. They cater for a range of over 20 different medical conditions, including heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, arthritis and obesity. “We’ve used the community hubs as a way of engaging
people in the community, in an environment they are familiar with and therefore happy to do exercise in,” says Charles Allen, physical activity co-ordinator, East Coast Community Healthcare. “Thanks to the diversity of the Easyline equipment, we’re able to put more specific, tailored interventions in place for each of the medical conditions being catered for at the community hubs.” Indeed, it’s this equipment diversity – as well as the hubs’
non-intimidating environment and excellent, engaged staff – which has contributed to significantly higher attendance and completion rates compared to other schemes. “Where in some places attendance has been at 40 per cent completed, we’re now getting 80 to 85 per cent of people completing the course – and then carrying on with activity after the intervention,” says Lyn Blizzard, health improvement principal at East Coast Community Healthcare. “The Easyline equipment is fantastic – that’s the only word to use to describe it – because it’s so simple and
The Easyline equipment is simple to use
easy to use. People can’t hurt themselves on it, and the minute they sit on it to have a go, they feel relaxed, happy and confident. They can then progress from here into the mainstream gyms,” comments Rachael Lacey, specialist physical activity instructor. Allen adds: “Ninety-three per cent of people who use our
community hubs have already lost weight – an average of 6.5lbs over 12 weeks. Our close monitoring and new systems allow us to support their continued efforts, with constant feedback and tracking of patients’ progress.” “Operating these hubs over the last 12 months is now
influencing how we are shaping our overall service, as we can demonstrate the importance of physical activity as a valuable tool in improving lifestyle,” concludes Blizzard. “It’s also a superb way of educating people and equipping them with skills that can be used to help improve wellbeing, outlook and belief in themselves.” For more information:
www.technogym.com
The exercise hubs cater for a range of over 20 different medical conditions
PROJECT PROFILE PROMOTION
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November/December 2012 © cybertrek 2012
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