Derby North MP Amanda Solloway discovered how a city gym is helping residents who are struggling with joint pain live a more active life by holding free sessions designed to get them moving again.
Amanda spent an afternoon at the Nuffield Health gym, based at the Derbyshire Cricket Club in Nottingham Road, to find out more about its Joint Pain Wellbeing programme, a six-month scheme designed to help people aged 45 and struggling with issues such as injury, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
She heard first-hand from Darren Hasall, joint pain programme leader, and rehabilitation specialist Nathan Rigby about how the programme currently involves five participants and involves twice-weekly lifestyle and exercise workshops for three months, followed by free gym sessions for a further three months.
The scheme involves around 12,000 people nationwide and gym membership is not necessary to take part, with participants who have completed the course reporting improvements in mobility and fitness and a reduction in joint pain – and a newfound love of getting out and about.
She said: “I love exercise, and as we get older, the need to remain active becomes ever-more important, but there are huge challenges for people who suffer chronic joint pain and who can’t just go for a run or jump onto an exercise bike.
“Theirs is a Catch-22 situation, they know they need to get fit but they don’t feel confident or capable of walking into a gym and accessing the equipment and advice that’s available.
“This course is a really safe way of helping people to improve their fitness and this will in turn lead to them feeling more active and confident about themselves, which can be life-changing.”
Peter Marsden, general manager of Nuffield Health’s Derby gym, said: “We’re grateful to Amanda for coming to find out more about our Joint Pain Wellbeing programme, which helps to get us out into the community and reach out to people who wouldn’t otherwise access our gym.
“But more importantly it’s there to improve the health of the nation so that people who are suffering with joint pain can find a route into exercise and mobility which will improve their health benefits for a more sustainable life.”
To find out more about Nuffield Health’s Joint Pain Wellbeing programme visit www.nuffieldhealth.com
