Helping North Northants residents’ recovery from Long COVID
Help and support for adults30 May 2024
North Northamptonshire residents can now sign up for a specially designed 12-week Long COVID Exercise Programme sessions at Corby’s Lodge Park Sports Centre.
Any resident in North Northamptonshire who is suffering from persistent symptoms caused by COVID-19 infection can self-refer onto the programme. They can also be referred to the programme through any medical professional.
The goals of the programme include helping users manage and increase energy levels and reduce fatigue, boost respiratory function, improve muscle strength and endurance, enhance mental well-being, improve coordination, motor skills, balance, mobility, and help achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
The sessions are supported by E-GYM's suite of equipment and Immunity Boost programme, offering tailored fitness programmes using state of the art technology to improve health and fitness levels of individuals suffering from Long COVID.
Executive Members, Public Health and Leisure staff were invited to an opening event at Lodge Park Sports Centre to hear all about the programme and how it will support residents, as well as see the equipment demonstrated.
I am delighted that Public Health in North Northamptonshire Council has been able to fund this project.Councillor Gill Mercer, Executive Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing
I was particularly impressed that that the equipment is automated, so ideal for even inexperienced gym users to support their recovery.
Also, that participants can, through the interactive app, go on to embed physical activity in their daily lives.
Individuals who opt for the 12 week Long COVID Exercise Programme will be invited to Lodge Park Sports Centre to complete a full assessment of their condition by the Exercise Referrals Team, who are all trained in Long COVID exercise. Participants will be taken through a health induction and can then train individually, or as part of group sessions, using the E-GYM equipment.
I was massively impressed by the E-GYM Smart Strength equipment. It is a real game-changer, customising workouts to individual needs and adapting as the user grows stronger.Councillor Helen Howell, Deputy Leader of North Northamptonshire Council and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism
Importantly it adapts to users so that they don’t overdo things and end up with the lowered immune systems that are associated with post-exertion in Long COVID.
Staff obviously can’t wait to get going and help residents with Long COVID improve their health and wellbeing, so if you know someone affected do let them know about this offering.
The Long COVID offer is a 12-week programme, with support from one of the qualified health and fitness team. Individuals can then progress onto Activity on Referral giving them support for six months in total.
The instructor will provide safe and effective activity advice based on medical history and experience. guiding participants through their journey with bespoke programmes and activities.
If they are not digitally confident, or do not have access to a smartphone the trainers will also show and guide participants using the centre’s digital equipment, so they can see and be motivated by their progress.
Customers can join the discounted Activity on Referral scheme at £24.50 per month. This option gives access to the E-GYM as well as other facilities at Lodge Park, seven days a week. Alternatively they can opt to ‘pay as you go’ at a cost of £4.20 per session.
It is so important that we support our residents living with this debilitating condition to live their best lives. We now have such a superb offering for those of our North Northants residents who are affected by Long-COVID, with trained staff and specialist equipment and providing tailored exercise.Leader of North Northants Council, Jason Smithers
All the employees involved have worked exceptionally hard to put this together and I wish them, and the residents who will use the programme, every success.