Monday evening Anne Marie our personal trainer ran the first Backmob, the four participants were delighted with the experience and didn't even ache too much the next day. Anne Marie had devised a simple circuit involving exercises with a swiss ball, weights stretchy thing, trampoline and a medicine ball (3kg). Some of the participants have serious back injuries, but after some initial apprehension that Anne Marie did well to manage they got into the swing of things. (maybe it was ABBA in the background that helped) and are looking forward to next weeks session.

Initially we thought that we could devise activities that people would be able to do in their own front room, but 'getting out of doors' in itself was a clear motivator. We thought that activities could be devised which wouldn't need the support of a trainer - yet having seen the fundamental role that a trainer is playing this is difficult to imagine too.

Key functions of the trainer:

• Identified individual motivations and medical conditions


• Enhance group dynamics
• Reassurance - 'Don't look scared' - 'You will feel pain tomorrow, but it's the worst it will ever be - it's important to come back..'
• Safety - 'Don't use your hands on the swiss ball'
• Planning suitable activity
• Vary exercises for individuals abilities - 'I don't want you doing this one Sue'
• Prevent people from doing too much - 'Don't over exhert yourself - we'll do that next week'
• Encouragement - 'All of you are brilliant, your mobility is great, your form is great'

The rest of the week has been spent in London refining the system and producing the catalogue and presentations to get feedback on next week - our final week in Park Wood.

CATEGORY: HEALTH PROJECT