Fraser Health residents who are scheduled for an operation can now work out for free at a gym and get fit for surgery, thanks to an innovative agreement between Fraser Health and the Steve Nash Fitness World and Sports Club.
As of July 1, surgical patients from Fraser Health are eligible for free access to a five-week pre-operative fitness program at one of the region's 17 Steve Nash Fitness World and Sports Club locations to get stronger and to lose weight prior to surgery.
The intent of the program is to help pre-op patients improve their physical fitness so that they can return to normal activities as quickly as possible after their surgery.
Medical evidence shows that individuals who are physically fit have better surgical outcomes than those who are not. Benefits include shorter recovery times, shorter hospital stays, fewer complications and overall long-term health improvements.
Patients must be referred to the fitness program by their surgeon to ensure their individual condition will benefit from the program. After the referral is made, a certified personal trainer discusses fitness levels and the best exercise options with the patient prior to their surgery. Fraser Health will not share any personal medical information with the trainer and participation is voluntary.
The fitness program includes: five free weeks of preoperative access to Steve Nash Fitness World; one-hour session with a personal trainer for an initial assessment; one-hour session with a personal trainer for a follow-up assessment; a temporary membership card; and a record of client visits to the club.
This Fraser Health initiative is the first of its kind in B.C., and supports the province's emphasis on promoting healthy lifestyles for all residents.
The initiative also meshes with Steve Nash's vision to promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle that is attainable by everyone. Nash is a Victoria native and National Basketball Association all-star. In 2006, Time magazine named the Victoria, B.C. native as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, citing his work both on and off the court.
