Fitness regime at Belong Atherton has Malcolm jumping for joy

10/07/2013

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A lifelong Atherton resident has had major surgery cancelled thanks to the intervention of a dedicated fitness instructor at Belong Atherton.
Malcolm Loveless, 80, was scheduled to receive hip replacement surgery, before staff at the Belong village on Mealhouse Lane convinced him to try out one of their personalised exercise programmes, to keep fit and tone his muscles.
When Malcolm and his wife first moved into their Belong apartment he was experiencing pain so severe that he was unable to bend down to tie his own shoelaces. Over the course of six months of regular exercise under the instruction of Belong Atherton’s fitness instructor, Gilmour Zamudzandu, formerly an Atherton Town football player, Malcolm’s pain receded almost completely.
Malcolm no longer needs a walking stick to get around, and can now bend to tie his shoelaces again. Doctors at his most recent consultation told him that the hip replacement operation is no longer necessary, and Malcolm isn’t alone. Many of the residents at Belong Atherton are increasing their independence and regaining mobility. Independence gives control and choice back to the individual, which is why access to an exercise studio is considered a vital element of Belong villages.
Speaking of his experience, Malcolm said: “The difference that regular exercise has made to my life is incredible. When I first started going to the sessions, I thought that they were too much, but Gilmour said to me that there was no gain without pain, and he was right. Every session the pain became a little less, and now I’m more mobile than I’ve been in years. My wife and I live on a first floor apartment and I never use the lift anymore, I can manage the stairs no problem.”
The proven benefits of regular exercise include decreasing stiffness and pain, which in turn helps to improve balance and coordination. As well as helping with falls prevention, regular exercise can make a huge difference to daily living. Associated benefits include lower blood pressure, improved memory, sleep patterns and mood.
Julie Washington, general manager at Belong Atherton, is delighted with the results that Gilmour has achieved with residents and visitors: “It’s amazing to watch residents regaining increased levels of independence through our progressive exercise programme. It can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking that exercise is for young people, but the truth is that exercise becomes more important the older you get, not less. Promoting the opportunity to keep fit is a real priority at Belong, because we see proof of the benefits every day.”
A one-to-one assessment is carried out with anybody wishing to use the exercise facilities at Belong Atherton, determining the physical capacity of the individual, their level of skill and their balance and co-ordination. By liaising with other health professionals, such as GPs and physiotherapists, Belong Atherton staff are able to develop personalised exercise programmes designed to increase core strength, mobility and balance, encouraging older people to keep active and maintain their independence.

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