Sit-urday Night Fever

Imagine an exercise where the lively beats of the dance floor meet the cozy comfort of a seat. No need to dream any longer—chair discos have taken Arrowe Park Hospital by storm, offering a hip new way to uplift spirits and promote well-being.

These vibrant sessions are part of the Trust’s recent falls awareness campaign, designed to encourage patients and visitors to engage in exercise classes in a fun and innovative way. This initiative was originally launched in the hospital’s Department of Medicine for the Elderly (DME).

“Some of our wards have used chair discos as a novel way of making therapy fun for our patients, alongside Olympic-themed games and mocktail clubs,” said physiotherapist Carl Pattrick.

These sessions incorporate elements of standardised, evidence-based falls prevention programmes, ensuring participants benefit from strengthening exercises that challenge their balance, reduce the risk of falls, and improve mobility.

Their success has been remarkable, according to Carl.

“Our previous chair discos have been a great way of engaging patients with rehab activities, including some who normally don’t engage with therapies. The group exercise format also helps patients with cognitive deficits engage more effectively with therapy."

“I tried a taster session and thought it was a fun way to package exercise. All that was missing was a glitter ball,” said Jane Lloyd, who suffers from mobility issues.

Looking ahead, the DME plans to train therapy assistants to provide chair discos as weekly classes on the wards. For those at home, there are plenty of resources on YouTube to get an idea of what to expect. Some Merseyside community groups also offer chair-based exercise classes, providing a fun and social way to stay fit, reduce the risk of falls, and maintain independence. So, why not join the chair disco revolution and dance your way to better health?