Ballybunion takes accessible water fitness to the max
IT’S another major first for technology in Ballybunion as the tourist town’s community Health and Leisure Centre unveiled Ireland’s first underwater treadmills this week.
The town of the first ever Marconi radio broadcast across the Atlantic now has even more to distinguish it - this time in the area of accessible water fitness.
Ballybunion Health and Leisure Centre was delighted to take ownership this week of two new underwater treadmills, a hoist and flotation devices from an Italian manufacturer in a purchase facilitated by a grant from Kerry Recreation and Sports Partnership with the support of Sport Ireland.
The new tech is to revolutionise rehabilitative and physio fitness at the centre, with the hoist allowing people who can’t use the steps access the water.
Meanwhile, with instructors trained in the special ‘Halwick’ swimming teaching method for people with disabilities, it is very much a new era at the community-based facility.
Those instructors have been helping people with disabilities learn to swim under the Swim for All programme at the centre, but can roll it out to even more now with the help of the hoist.
Water-based fitness reaps dividends for people with all manner of physical conditions, manager Pádraig Hanrahan said: “The buoyance of the water decreases stress on the joints, the viscosity provides resistance for strength-training and the hydrostatic pressure helps support the body providing a safe workout environment”.
Waist-height water reduces body weight by about 50% while chest-height water reduces it close to 75%, thus lowering the impact of forces on any existing injury.
“We currently run 15 classes a week on the underwater bikes with a mixture of customers some have been referred by their physiotherapist’s to others that use it as part of their overall exercise programs, these treadmills will now form part of a new exercise program at the centre.”
Chair of the KRSP Jimmy Deenihan said: “We are delighted to be associated with the purchase of the motorised hoist and the underwater treadmills for use in Ballybunion Leisure Centre. The Centre has been to the forefront in making its swimming pool accessible for all age groups and individuals with special needs. The hoist and the treadmills will be very positive additions to the underwater bikes which have proven to be very popular with those undertaking exercise or rehabilitation programmes”.