The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Perthshire duo create online forum for older people to get fit
Older people are being encouraged to get fit using an online forum created by two Perthshire fitness instructors.
Developed by James Knight, of Perth, and Susie Black, of Blairgowrie,, the UK Specialist Exercise Exchange (UKSEE) will be open to people from all over the country.
It is currently a free to join Facebook group intended to educate members about how to increase their activity alongside their current health conditions.
James and Susie will launch their first workshop – a 28-day Facebook course teaching Exercise for Osteoarthritis of the Knee – next month.
The duo aims to provide fitness programmes that are specially tailored to meet the needs of people with a particular health concern.
Susie said: “Joining an on-demand session where few health checks have been completed can be dangerous.
“Many members of this age group will be managing conditions which require greater than usual knowledge and understanding from their instructors.”
She added: “For several months, James and I have been discussing how the lockdown has changed the way our class members perceive online exercise.
“We knew we could use this shift to benefit our clients and that this could be rolled out to a much wider audience.”
The platform is aimed at people over the age of 50 but is open to anyone with health conditions, such as osteoarthritis and back problems.
While these conditions typically affect older age groups, James and Susie recognise their impact on younger people.
James said: “In general we work with clients from 50-plus but it’s the conditions that are important.
“Osteoarthritis, COPD, back pain, balance problems don’t recognise an age range and can start earlier for some.”
Although based in Perthshire, James and Susie have opened their platform to people from across the UK.
They believe the online platform allows them to reach more people regardless of their location.
James said: “It’s delivered entirely online and we’re hoping to appeal to the whole of the UK.
“The huge benefit to providing these programmes online is that location is no barrier.
“Since moving online we can individually help our clients grasp this new virtual world and that is a priority for us.”
He added: “Through a combination of Facebook and YouTube we can help people across the UK and further afield.”
Meanwhile, Covid-19 restrictions have forced the duo to consider the most effective ways of delivering classes and information away from their usual face-to-face interactions.
They say online delivery is more effective than how they usually operate, with clients able to access support and information regardless of their location.