Vermillion residents suffering from chronic pain have a chance to improve their way of life. Alberta Health Services is hosting a free supervised exercise program to specifically help those suffering from chronic conditions.
AHS employees will go through areas that could better someone’s quality of life. Exercise specialist Natalie Costa says during the 8-week supervised program participants will learn how to improve strength, flexibility, endurance among other things.
“Exercise is one of those things that if it was a medication everyone would be taking it because it literally helps every condition in the book and the whole idea of the program is to use exercise almost as a medication.”
Costa adds that chronic conditions include obesity, heart conditions and asthma. The program will run every Tuesday in Vermillion. Residents don’t need a doctors referral but residents must register and attend an information seminar to make sure the program is right for them. The program will be run at Lakeland Campus in Vermillion. Costa says during the one on one assessment she will see what the person needs in order to personalize the exercises to them.
“This essentially teaches them how to increase their physical activity level when they’re living with the condition. So, what can they do, what can’t they do, what’s appropriate, what’s not appropriate, what should they’re heart rate be based on the medication that they’re on, what safety precautions should we be looking at.”
AHS runs the program a couple times a year with around 12 people per session. The information session will be held at Vermilion Prairie Place on December 5th from 10:30 AM to 12 PM. Register is required and can be done by calling Alberta Healthy Living Program at 1-877-314-6997.