PATIENTS suffering with long-term lung disease have been getting fitter thanks to a pioneering project to use a gym within a GP's surgery.The initiative, at Stowhealth centre in Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket, has been helping people from the town and nearby Mendlesham and Eye.
PATIENTS suffering with long-term lung disease have been getting fitter thanks to a pioneering project to use a gym within a GP's surgery.
The initiative, at Stowhealth centre in Violet Hill Road, Stowmarket, has been helping people from the town and nearby Mendlesham and Eye.
The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) rehabilitation programme gave patients the chance to use exercise bicycles and weights under the expert eye of health professionals and has been running at the practice for six weeks.
The programme is run jointly by a respiratory specialist physiotherapist from Ipswich Hospital and a primary care nurse practitioner.
Jez Cooksley, the personal trainer who runs the GP surgery based gym, said: “This has proved a huge success and shows that it is never too late to improve your quality of life, by getting fitter.”
COPD is largely used to describe both chronic bronchitis and emphysema and is a slow, progressive and debilitating health problem that affects adults, causing breathlessness.
To find out more about the GP based gym call 01449 776052 or e-mail jezcooksley@personalfitnesstraining.wanadoo.co.uk
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