Staff and students from Keele University’s Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Clinic are helping to boost people's health and wellbeing in the local area with the launch of two new workshops.  

The clinic is a student-led training facility created to offer students real 'hands on' experience delivering physiotherapy treatments and therapies to staff, students and members of the public for an array of injuries, conditions and rehabilitation needs. The Clinic is expanding their services with the introduction of two new education and activity workshops.

Delivered from a newly refurbished studio in the Sport Centre, the workshops are designed to provide a space for education, and support to improve participant health in two key areas: Health and Wellbeing, and Ageing Well, with participants now being invited to help shape the new services. 

The Wellbeing Education and Activity workshop is a four-week programme, made up of one-hour weekly sessions. These informal and friendly sessions will see staff and students working with participants to educate and guide them to make positive changes to their health and wellbeing, with simple exercises, habits, and lifestyle changes that can have a long-term positive impact on physical and mental health.  

Understanding what makes us healthy, the importance of activity, stress management and changes for the future are all on the agenda, with activities including a strength circuit class, group walk on campus, and desk-based posture and core exercises, all tailored to individual ability and needs. 

The second new workshop on offer is an Ageing Well programme, which is aimed at people over 60 years of age who want to know more about ageing, maintaining mobility and strength, and other important and useful information for older people.  

This workshop will run weekly and will involve conversational education sessions on topics including 'What is arthritis?', 'Nutrition in older age', and 'The importance of balance', as well as incorporating a weekly exercise class designed to promote strength, balance and flexibility in over 60s.  

Katie Brown, Clinic Director, said: “Having worked most of my career in the NHS, it is wonderful to see the extra and much needed support that our student-led clinic can offer our patients. Being aware of ways to look after our wellbeing and better prepare ourselves for ageing are wonderful ways to support people to make healthier choices. I am excited to see the outcomes from our sessions and urge anyone to get in touch for more information on how our students can help you to stay mobile, strong and well.”  

To register to be part of the next four-week Wellbeing Education and Activity workshop starting on Wednesday the 23rd October at 1.15pm, or to be kept up to date about the Ageing Well workshop which is currently in development, email sahp.physioclinic@keele.ac.uk