Hundreds helped through Good Boost water-based rehabilitation
By Lauren Slater, Activity and Wellbeing Manager, Moorways Sports Village
Hundreds of people who are affected by joint pain, neurological conditions and other long-term conditions have been supported to improve their condition through water-based rehabilitation at Moorways Sports Village in Derby.
Healthcare professionals at Royal Derby Hospital and Florence Nightingale Hospital have been particularly proactive at recommending patients onto the Good Boost programme as an exit route after treatment in their hydrotherapy pool.
This has enabled patients to continue their aqua based rehabilitation in a community setting, without having to go back on a waiting list to access the hydrotherapy pool at the hospital, which is in high demand.
The Good Boost programme is a nationally-recognised personalised therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation, on land and in water.
Good Boost started as a community health research project in public swimming pools in Oxford and it launched as a social enterprise in 2018.
At Moorways Sports Village, operated by Everyone Active, the sessions take place in our accessible pool which has a moveable floor, enabling us to adjust the pool depth to the needs of the participants.
The pool can be accessed by steps into the water. We also have wet wheelchairs available and a platform which lowers users into the water. A moveable hoist is available for accessibility into all the pools.
The programme uses AI technology to prescribe exercises specific to patients condition(s) and at an intensity that is suitable for them.
They can select the duration they wish to exercise for (between 10 and 45 minutes) and have the option of using equipment such as water dumbbells, pool noodles or kickboard/floats, if they wish.
The technology will ask the user to input their pain levels in the last 24 hours and to enter how they felt since their previous session.
They can also choose whether they would like the programme easier, similar, or harder than their previous session.
At the end of the workout they will be asked to provide feedback on the exercises (by selecting a thumbs up or thumbs down button next to each exercise).
Healthcare professionals are welcome to come and see our Good Boost programme in action, to find out more get in touch with the Activity and Wellbeing team via LaurenSlater@everyoneactive.com
Since October 2022, 200 people have accessed the Good Boost sessions either as part of our Exercise Referral programme or as a pay as you go customer.
Patients do not need a referral from a healthcare professional to access the scheme and can book in by calling the centre, via the Everyone Active App or online at www.everyoneactive.com
Here is an example of feedback we have received:
“I started the Good Boost Programme not quite knowing what to expect.
I was quite excited to follow the specially designed exercises and felt quite special that they were designed especially for me.
They were targeted to ease my painful joints and improve my wellbeing. Well, they certainly did that and much more.
“Three months later my joints are so much more mobile and much less painful.
“My mental health and confidence has improved so much, I wasn’t expecting that to happen.
“My body shape has changed as I seem to have lost some inches and I have so much more energy.
“The programme is different every week and you can choose the difficulty level according to how you’re feeling pain wise.
“My instructor Jenny is always kind and supportive with a ready smile.
“I can recommend the programme, facilities and the support most favourably.
” If you want to feel special and improve your health then this is the place to be.
“Thank you to whoever designed this programme.”