As an Exercise Referral Instructor Level 4 I work with those with single or complex health conditions. If you have a shielding 'notice' or are wishing to 'shield' only online/remote training or outdoors weather permitting can be carried out. Full Covid19 Precautions will be taken re PPE, Distancing and Environment if you have a Therapy Based Programme linked with Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy referral. These protocols are on going for anyone vulnerable to infection in 2024. 

  • Consultation in your home/online to ascertain appropriate referral and agreement to proceed with the GP or other Health Practitioner. 
  • Health assessment/screen to ascertain fitness level to carry out graded exercise programme.
  • Lifestyle screening to obtain history of activity, work, leisure and time available. To identify any potential barriers and agree strategies to overcome them in order to complete exercise programme. Chat about your readiness to start and agree short, medium and long term Goals.
  • Fitness Testing and Postural alignment: to include Body Mass Composition, Range of Movement, Muscular strength and endurance, Cardiovascular Output.  These tests will be repeated during the programme to assist monitoring progress and allow progression to Goals. 
  • Graded programme's specifically designed to meet health needs, limitations and abilities and desired outcome taking into account any contraindications identified regarding the Health Conditions and Medications at the time of the consultation.  Constant monitoring regarding any new conditions that may need the programme to be adjusted. 
  • Programmes to be carried out either in your home or outdoor environment and all appropriate risk assessments will be completed before any sessions. ie Covid safe environment and risk assess area (lounge) 

I work with a wide range of Health Conditions; of which all must be stable at the time of referral: 

  • Muscular and Skeletal conditions ie: Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Joint Replacement and Low Back Pain (simple mechanical).
  • Weight Management: Metabolic Syndrome.
  • Endocrine conditions ie: Diabetes Type 1 and 2.
  • Respiratory conditions ie: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • Cardiovascular disease ie: Hypertension, Cardiovascular disease and Hypercholesterolaemia.
  • Neurological disease ie: Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinsons Disease and Stroke (CVE) or (TIA).
  • Mental Health conditions ie: Depression, Anxiety and Stress. 
  • LONG COVID: Recovering from COVID-19: It can take a long time to recover fully from coronavirus. Many people report feeling unwell for several weeks, even months but you can improve and quicken this recovery with the right graded programme.
  • COVID symptoms include: Breathlessness, Cough, Chest tightness, Chest pain, Palpitations, Fatigue, Fever, Pain, Cognitive impairment (‘brain fog’, loss of concentration or memory issues), Headache, Sleep disturbance, Peripheral neuropathy symptoms (pins and needles and numbness), Dizziness and Delirium (in older people) with fear, anxiety, memory and concentration and low mood compounding your physical symptoms. 
  • You can visit www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk for information on Covid19, Symptoms and recovery. 

 

If you have specific Nutritional needs, I can refer you to a Nutritionist or your GP or Consultant or other Health Professional as required.  Unfortunately there is no NHS funding at this time to the Private Sector. 

Referral's to NHS and Local Authority facilities and Health Clubs can be made by your GP, as such they are sometimes jointly funded or subsidised. However these gyms have multiple facilities and cater to all needs to a wide variety. People may find this environment intimidating and negative towards their own journey to improved health. The Programmes are generally for 12 weeks at which at the end the patient is either encourage to join the facility to carry on or given exercises to do at home. For many this is not long enough to achieve the desired end Goal and does not provide the support to adjust to a new lifestyle and continue with their health and exercise programme.

The advantage of using an Independent Personal Trainer/Instructor is that I am in a better position to assist and guide you to continue your journey and to make the right choices. Programmes can be designed to be in the Gym in time when their confidence builds and to be applied across different environments to give variety and enhance completing the course and changing their lifestyle long term.