Exercise class gives Norma confidence and strength for life
A EXERCISE programme has transformed the life of a 76-year-old woman whose multiple sclerosis (MS) and balance problems mean she is vulnerable to falling regularly at home, writes SAM VOLPE.
Gosforth pensioner Norma Richardson was referred to the Staying Steady classes run by the North East charity Healthworks before the pandemic, and the 27-week programme boosted her confidence so she could get out and about and live her life more freely – and she was even astounding instructors with her ability to do squats by the end.
The pandemic and series of lockdowns since the end of the course have meant her progress has fallen back a little but now she has signed up to do Staying Steady again in hope of regaining some of her mobility.
Norma, who attended sessions at Trinity Church in Gosforth, added: “The sessions were such a huge help – though unfortunately we’ve had lockdown but before then the course was wonderful, and I loved the camaraderie too. It had a huge impact on my balance.
“Obviously you start off having to hold on to things until you’re able to stand on your own. It made a huge difference for me, I had much more confidence going out of the door.
“Sadly my balance has fallen back again but I’m starting again this month. It was so helpful for me.”
Rory Harrison, a senior manager at the charity, is in charge of many of its community fitness programmes – which also include a cardiac rehab class for those recovering from heart attacks and cardiac arrest.
He said: “What’s important is that you don’t need to be referred by anyone else, though you can be. People can get in touch if they have a fear of falling or actually fall and self-refer into the programme.
“The transformation we see in people is really great. Some of the people coming can be quite frail and reliant on walking aids.
“At the end of the 27 weeks we get them doing quite difficult exercises like lunges. We want to push the social aspect too. This is communitybased and not medicalised.”
Norma added: “I would recommend it to absolutely everybody, Rory used to say I was the only woman of my age he’d ever met who could do squats!”
Sessions run across the city from Healthworks’ bases in Lemington and Benwell as well as Trinity Church and East End Pool in Byker.
To find out more about the Staying Steady classes and other support on offer from Healthworks, visit healthworksnewcastle.org.uk.