“I felt that the researchers on the study really cared… I felt very privileged to have access to my own personal trainer.”
Participant 1
Ulcer at 12 week follow-up
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“I loved the exercise programme, it was great! I wish it was carrying on. I feel so much healthier and I’m a lot thinner. I didn’t do any exercise before the study and now I’m walking regularly and can get up the hills.”
Participant 7
Exercise session
“The exercise has been really beneficial to me, the ulcer is coming along now, the nurse can’t believe how much better it looks. I have COPD and the exercise has helped my breathing a lot and my lung capacity has improved. I am beginning to feel fitter.”
Participant 8
Exercise session
“Many of the participants that join the study have low levels of fitness and so we start off slowly and gradually build the intensity and duration of the exercise over the 12 weeks. Progression is tailored to the individual. I guide participants through a variety of lower-limb exercises that aim to improve the efficiency and strength of the calf muscle pump. Not only has it been great to see the ulcers heal but it’s also nice to see participants gain confidence, lose weight and become fitter.”
Emma McIntosh Exercise Physiologist
“There’s been a vast improvement to the way I’m feeling, to the way I’m holding myself and people are saying you look totally different and your walking a lot further. Its not until I felt the benefits of this programme that I realised fully how bad things had got.”
Participant 19
“It healed so quickly, I have never seen my leg heal that quickly before I can honestly say that and I think they were a bit surprised at the clinic.”
Participant 9
“It got me out the house, I was spending quite a lot of time at home and it gave me a reason to go out and do things and generally I felt a lot better from the exercises.”
Participant 8
“It was positive it was a different treatment it wasn’t just drugs it wasn’t just bandages it was an alternative to try something new.”
Participant 1
I can do 30mins on the treadmill now and we started at 10/15 minutes so its built up and improved everything and I say the ulcer is almost healed. I’m sure the exercise has helped it, definitely.”
Participant 17
“I am very happy with the research programme everyone has been really nice and it has benefitted me in a big way.”
Participant 7
Is it feasible to implement an exercise intervention in patients with venous ulcers? 