Fitness for life

The programme is led and provided by qualified fitness trainers from The Core for people with Chronic Long term conditions. A 20 week course for an hour and a half each week. The course content includes tailored exercises, gentle Pilates, healthy lifestyle advice and medication advice (from a community pharmacist).

'Fitness for Life' originated as the walking group for people with COPD held at the Eden Project. The success of this pilot led to the development of a more generic course for people with any chronic long term condition.

'Fitness for Life' is not a replacement for rehabilitation or therapy, it one of a range of follow-on services to help people with chronic long term conditions to self-manage, including for example the neurological fitness programme (also provided by The Core), the generic LTC pilot course (a medical model to educate and promote self-management), the Expert Patients Programme, health trainers and the activities offered by LEAP. This supports the PCT's strategic objective to help people to stay healthy and live independently and to offer a choice of local services. It also supports recent Public Health guidance around the benefits of low-level exercise in improving a person's well-being and ability to manage independently for as long as possible.

The courses are open to anyone with a chronic long term condition who is able to undertake gentle exercise. Patients will be asked to complete a short questionaire and a phone consultation before course commencement. Patients can also self-refer.

The Core also deliver RENEW and The Baggy Tee Programs. Helen is a personal trainer working with clients (warriors) recovering from cancer. The Core will be launching the most recent of the speciality courses in September 2011.  Exercise Continuum will also be designed for Falls Prevention, Balance and the aging Population.