Family doctors team up with Fitness centre

Inactive people will get a kick start from their doctors so to speak, with a special fitness program called Queens Fit Pro.

In an effort to help inactive people maintain regular physical activity, doctors at Queens General Hospital are partnering with the Queens Fitness Centre, Department of Health Protection and Promotion, Queens Community Health Board and the Region of Queens Municipality.

“This incentive will encourage otherwise healthy but inactive people we refer to the Queens Fitness Centre to take action and improve their quality of life,” said Dr. Andy Blackadar. “This pilot project, a first in Nova Scotia as far as we know, is long overdue.”

The program will help 100 inactive residents, who will be referred to the program through their family doctor.

A $55 voucher will go to those who take part in the Queens fit Pro program. The patient must pay the remaining $55 fee to activate a three-month membership.

“Queens Fit Pro is designed to make participants active, to provide them with qualified staff support and with the full range of fitness equipment in a congenial environment where they can work out with others with similar needs,” said Queens Fitness Centre manager, Liz Boland.

Blackadar added, “it addresses considerable preventive health needs and will yield significant benefits both to the participants and our community at large.”

An evaluation report on the Queens Fit Pro program will come out next fall.

For more information contact Louis Tousignant at 354-4947.