A rehabilitation specialist has created virtual fitness classes to help people living with chronic illness cope with isolation.
Valerie Duguid has more than 20 years of experience in supporting Dundonians with recovery from debilitating health conditions.
She has launched a YouTube channel to guide people through exercise as their regular rehab sessions are placed on hold due to the coronavirus crisis.
The first run of classes will focus on cancer recovery before moving on to cardiac fitness.
The sessions will also feature expert advice from professionals across the globe, including posture clinicians in America.
Valerie specialised in cardiac and cancer rehabilitation fitness before studying at Abertay University and has gone on to work with various charities across Dundee.
The 49-year-old is also hoping to set up Gymology – a city gym for people with chronic illnesses.
Treating patients with a long-term illness is about taking their needs into consideration, as Valerie hopes to encourage viewers to reach out and suggest conditions they would like fitness sessions for.
She said: “A lot of chronic illness sufferers might worry about their condition getting worse because they can’t get out and about, so that led me to start up the YouTube channel.
“It could be a lifeline for people who are isolating and feel they don’t have access to suitable workouts.
“There’s a lot of evidence to say fitness helps cancer patients reduce their symptoms – it aids physical and psychological recovery.
“People who have had chemotherapy, for example, will experience difficulties such as brain fog and in some cases where they have had surgery, their posture may be affected.
“So it’s about building them up over time. With the online classes, people can do as much as they’re able to and improve over a period of weeks and months of working at it.
“I’m hoping it will become interactive where people can comment or reach out and tell me what kind of heart condition they would like covered.
“I just want to use the channel to put my 20 years of experience in this industry to good use and help people who really need it during this tough time.”
Sessions run for 10-15 minutes and are uploaded regularly at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzhyOP9N5n2IhFQCi6NrJOg
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