Community-Based Exercise for People Living with Stroke Exercise programmes and physical activity counselling have been shown to be an integral part of self-management strategies for people living with chronic disease. The expertise of physiotherapists has been used to develop a training package to train fitness instructors to deliver a community exercise programme for people living with stroke. This approach provides improved access to stroke-specific exercise programmes and will better allow community-dwelling people with stroke to maintain function and mobility while more fully participating in their community.

The Goal
The ultimate goal of this project is to build capacity in the health care system by providing a safe and effective community exercise programme focussed on and accessible to people living with stroke.

The Programme
An instructor training package was produced in DVD format in order to provide a standardized, competency-based approach to training. Completion of the training programme enables non-health care professionals to deliver an exercise programme based on best practice to people living with stroke. This strategy is one way to utilize the expertise of physiotherapists, while more fully integrating community programmes into the continuum of stroke care.

Target Audience
This training programme may be of interest to:

• Individuals involved with, or interested in, fitness instruction
• Health care professionals associated with stroke rehabilitation or community reintegration
• Stakeholders interested in the development and implementation of a community exercise class for people with stroke

Demo Videos Please note: The demonstration videos provided are abbreviated versions of the “Fitness Instructor Training Programme: Community-Based Exercise for People Living with Stroke”. The videos are designed to provide an overview only and highlight specific features and the general content included in the full training package.   How to use the DVD Training Programme Section 1 Programme Background Section 2 What is Stroke? Section 3 Stroke & Exercise Section 4 Key Components Section 5 Programme Management Section 6 Closing and Next Steps Exercise Programme (DVD - Disc 2)

Printed Resources

	Executive Summary - Evaluation of the impact of an eight-week, stroke-specific exercise programme developed by physiotherapists and delivered in the community by trained fitness facilitators.
	Health Care Provider Handbook
	Keep Moving with Stroke - Full Programme
	Keep Moving with Stroke - Quick Reference
	List of Training Programme Documents available on DVD
	Sample Physician Consent Form
	Sample Self-Test Question (from Section 3: Stroke and Exercise)

To order the full training package or to provide feedback, please contact:

Esmé French, Regional Stroke Rehabilitation Specialist
NWO Regional Stroke Network
201-984 Oliver Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 7C7
Phone: (807) 684-6498
Fax: (807) 684-5883
Email: frenche@tbh.net

Fitness Instructor Training Programme
Community-Based Exercise for People Living with Stroke

Created by: Esmé French, Anne MacLeod & Kirsti Reinikka, Physiotherapists

Funded by:

• North West Local Health Integration Network
• Ontario Stroke System-Ministry of Health and Long Term Care
• Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion-Communities in Action Fund

We would like to sincerely thank all the stroke survivors and their care partners who participated in, and supported this project!

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