A pool exercise programme has become a “lifeline” for participants who say it helps them manage pain, stay active and build friendships.
Good Boost at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre uses tablets to guide people through personalised workouts based on their health conditions, mobility and goals.
Senior general manager Nick Price said the programme has run for more than four years, expanding from two sessions to three.
A participant uses a tablet to follow a personalised Good Boost workout at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre. Photo supplied by LeisureSK.
He said: “I believe leisure centres truly have a massive impact on the local community.
“We help grandparents stay fit enough to play football with their grandchildren in the garden, we are a place to meet new friends and combat loneliness and we ultimately work on behalf of our community.”
Participants complete an initial assessment before following exercises at their own pace, with a facilitator available to support them.
Participants exercise during a Good Boost session at Grantham Meres Leisure Centre. Photo supplied by LeisureSK.
Nick said participants do not need to be able to swim because sessions take place in waist-to-chest-depth water.
The programme welcomes people with conditions including arthritis, back pain and mobility limitations, alongside those recovering from injury or returning gently to exercise.
In anonymous feedback supplied by the centre, one participant described how sessions helped them manage osteoarthritis and recover from surgery to replace both hips.
Another called Good Boost a “lifeline” over the past 18 months, describing benefits for movement, pain management and mental health.
A third said: “I find these sessions extremely enjoyable socially and look forward to meeting and catching up with the other attendees.”
Contributors also praised leisure assistant Hayley Milne’s support and attentiveness.
Some requested more sessions and improvements to the tablets’ reliability. Nick said staff regularly update the devices and report problems to catch issues early.
For more information contact the leisure centre directly.