“Regular use of this outdoor gym equipment has greatly improved my health and quality of life”

11th June 2019

Dave is 76 years old and lives in the South West of England. He is retired now having worked for most of his life in the ceramics industry.

For a number of years, he has struggled with a number of respiratory conditions. Dave has been diagnosed with chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD), was severely asthmatic and has bronchiectasis. These conditions had led to regular visits to his doctor and hospital.

A Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gym was installed in the village Dave lives in two and a half years ago. He found out about the installation of the gym through the local village newsletter.

Dave started using the outdoor gym equipment regularly, combining this with some walking.  After a short time, he found he started to feel better. He used the gym 3-4 times per week and, given the wide range equipment installed in his local park, undertook a mix of strength and cardio training. He found the clear labelling on the equipment a useful guide to the exercises that he should be doing.

2 and a half years on, Dave feels much better. His lung function has improved substantially, and he feels much healthier, in fact, he has not been to the doctors for over 2 years!

The first step to starting any new fitness routine can often be the hardest.  However, the benefits of getting regularly exercise are vast.  If you are lucky enough to have one of our gyms in your local park, there really is no need to feel daunted about using it.  The labels on the equipment give simple, clear instructions showing you how to use the equipment safely. They also give recommendations for using the equipment for various fitness levels. We have created simple how-to videos, showing you exactly how to use the equipment, these can be found on You Tube, our website and our App.  Our app also provides further information on the equipment along with a map to help you find your nearest Fresh Air Fitness outdoor gym.