YMCA launches Allied Health service

Improved health and wellbeing of South Australians is the aim as YMCA South Australia (the Y) officially launches its Allied Health services on Wednesday, 16 November.

Accredited Exercise Physiologists at The Parks Recreation and Sports Centre (Angle Park) and Marion Leisure and Fitness Centre (Morphettville) will service clients in need of the right exercises to help prevent and manage chronic disease, help recover faster from surgery or injury and help clients develop healthy lifestyle habits.

The Y has facilitated dedicated Allied Health suites at these centres to cater for the new service offering and Head of Health Services, Kym Siddons, said initial demand indicates that the service has great potential for positive community impact.

“It’s exciting to be involved in helping broaden the scope of services offered to the community by the Y. These services are aimed at helping people become healthier and more active through exercise programs tailored to their specific health needs,” she said.

“The Y has been committed to developing Allied Health services for some time and that planning now becomes reality with the launch of our dedicated spaces. We have already begun expansion to offer physiotherapy services, in addition to exercise physiology, and plan to offer other Allied Health services in the near future.”

“We believe that exercise is medicine - in fact exercise is proven to be the most effective, low cost treatment, with the least side effects, available for addressing a wide variety of health conditions.”

Common health conditions the Y’s Allied Health services help treat include diabetes, heart disease/cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.

“At the Y we are addressing community health concerns and these services will help address growing chronic health issues and the financial burden they place on the health system,” said Ms Siddons.

Ms Siddons added that there were a number of advantages associated with exercise physiology and other Allied Health services being delivered in recreation centres across Adelaide and South Australia operated by the Y. These include:

• Direct and immediate access to exercise facilities and equipment
• On-site access to hydrotherapy pools and group exercise spaces
• A ‘one stop shop’ for health and wellness – receive both exercise physiology, physiotherapy and other health services from industry experts within the facility and under close supervision
• As a not-for-profit, community focused organisation, the Y’s recreation centres provide an inclusive and non-intimidating environment for all community members

The benefits of exercise physiology and physiotherapy include treatment and exercise tailored to individual health concerns and conditions in a safe and effective manner, together with personal goal-setting and continued review.

“Our Allied Health professionals aim to equip and empower every client to feel and function at their best in mind, body and spirit, to reach their health and wellbeing goals,” said Ms Siddons.

The Y’s Allied Health services are accessible through a referral from a GP or other health professional and clients can also refer themselves by booking an appointment directly.