Health programme growing in York

 
Issued by City of York Council

City of York Council’s HEAL (Health, Activity, Exercise and Lifestyle) Programme has recently been expanded to enable more people with medical conditions to live a more active lifestyle.

The sport and active leisure team have introduced a cancer specific exercise class and expanded the exercise referral scheme into Roko Health Club at Clifton Moor.

Councillor Sonja Crisp, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said: “People with medical conditions may face additional difficulties when undertaking exercise, such as pain control, minimising infection and a lack of confidence in knowing what level of activity they should be doing.

“It can be physically harder for them to do their 30 minutes recommended exercise a day and so the HEAL programme is all about overcoming barriers to exercise – essentially providing the right type of exercise for the relevant condition at the right intensity.”

iCAN move – a new class for people living with cancer – has been introduced on Wednesdays from 2pm to 3pm at Roko. A fully trained instructor with specialist cancer qualifications will give patients who are having, or who have had, cancer treatment a personal screening assessment.

Based on this a personal exercise programme is developed which includes aerobic, functional and resistance exercises. The classes aim to reduce the side effects of treatment, improve recovery and help minimise symptoms of the condition such as fatigue.

Referrals to this class are made from the Cancer Care Centre in York, through specialist clinical nurses as well as from the majority of GP practices in York.

Roko and the Royal York Hotel are the latest venues to become part of York’s exercise referral gym scheme which join Energise. Gym workouts are programmed and overseen by specially qualified fitness instructors who are experienced in working with patients with various different medical conditions.

There is also a general circuits class on Thursdays from 2.15 to 3.15pm at Roko. This is aimed at those people with medical conditions who are relatively inactive, where exercise is used to help manage or improve their conditions.

The class is aimed at participants who would rather exercise in a group rather than on their own in the gym. The sessions include a mix of circuit exercises in a studio as well as use of gym equipment.

HEAL classes should be accessed through the medical and health professionals (for example GPs, specialist nurses, physiotherapists) so anyone who feels they may benefit from the HEAL programme should approach them in the first instance.

Medical and allied health professionals can contact the council’s HEAL team on 01904 555755.

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