Good Boost was initially introduced at Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre as part of a six-month pilot programme looking at the uptake and effectiveness of a water-based muscular skeletal (MSK) programme.
The Good Boost session at Arcadia has since become part of the wider MSK offer, which is a UK Research and Innovation Project including ESCAPE Pain and Good Boost run across Arcadia Library and Leisure Centre and Hough End Leisure Centre.
Each six-week block can accommodate up to 10 people. Participants must complete an initial sign up process which takes approximately 30 minutes and includes a series of questions about their condition and the pain they experience.
Once this is complete, weekly sessions will require the participant to log in to a tablet which is collected from reception on the way in and set it up on the pool side to follow their personalised programme and enter changes with their condition or pain levels.
The session is facilitated by a member of staff, in this case Clive, who is the Health Living Instructor across Manchester leisure centres.
For the purpose of this case study we’ve concentrated on a course which had eight participants, of which Anita (63) and Donna (51), both from Beswick, who are the longest attending having begun attending (seen right with Clive).
Donna found out about the Good Boost offer while searching for classes that supported those living with muscle and joint pain and came across the Better website with the Good Boost information.
Donna, who lives with scoliosis and trapped nerves, took the information to her physio who she regularly visits at Crumpsall Hospital who then gave her the go ahead to get involved.
Anita, meanwhile, was awaiting a hip replacement and also has slight curvature of the spine.
Both Anita and Donna have had a positive experience from attending Good Boost sessions.
They both wanted to share their positive results and endorse the programme for those considering either applying it to their centre, or taking part themselves.
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