Innovative physio program partners with rec centre and family doctors
Heidi Drygas saw an opportunity to create a circuit-based exercise program in her Squamish community for people with neurological conditions, brain trauma or spinal cord injury. At the time, her community health team identified over 30 clients whose health and well-being would benefit from an exercise program. But there was nothing available – there wasn’t even a community gym.
As a physiotherapist, the program she researched and developed, called Exercise 4 Brain and Neuro Health, has already impacted the lives of more than 20 clients since it launched last September. The hour-long class takes place twice a week at the Squamish Senior’s Centre, the only space available.
“Exercise is as important for people with motor impairment as it is for anyone,” says Drygas, who works at the Squamish Community Health Centre. “Without adequate strength, mobility declines and it can lead to a gradual loss of independence and the risk of falls.”
Current research on the connection between exercise and Parkinson’s disease shows promising results. “It appears that targeted exercise can be neuro-protective, and when implemented early and consistently, it can alter the progression of the disease,” she says. “It has also been shown to be helpful in early dementia as it enhances short term memory function.”
The program is unique – and sustainable – because of the partnership between VCH and the local recreation centre. While VCH’s community rehabilitation team developed the program, the local recreation staff help deliver the classes. Family physicians are also closely involved as they refer their patients who meet the screening criteria.
Longer term, Heidi hopes the program can help reduce health care costs since it will maintain the fitness and mobility of clients who may otherwise see their health progressively decline until they need higher intensity care in a hospital or residential care facility.
Heidi was recently recognized with the “Catalyst for Innovative PT Practice” award, one of VCH and Providence Health Care’s STEP UP team excellence awards (Sharing Themes of Excellence in Physiotherapy to Upgrade Practice).
The program was made possible through funding from the VCH Integrated Primary and Community Care initiative. The regional team encourages collaboration between family physicians and health care professionals to move us toward an integrated primary, community and acute care system.