Michael Keller and Russ Watkins are full of praise for an exercise class that is slowly helping them regain independence after being hit by Long Covid.
For too long, Covid has remained a condition we know little about. But for two men from Newcastle, a weekly exercise class helped them regain their health — gradually — and support each other through a life-changing illness.
Michael Keller and Russ Watkins both developed Covid in 2021 – and in different ways their symptoms persisted. Michael still, over a year later, suffers from altered sense of smell and taste, severe tinnitus, fatigue and lethargy. Russ has chronic pain and also suffers from fatigue. For each of them, these are just some of the symptoms of it.
But over the past few months, with both eventually being referred to Dr. Graham Burns at RVI, Russ and Michael joined a special exercise class for people with the disease run by local health charity Healthworks. The idea is to gently help those with Long Covid manage their fitness and rebuild stamina and strength – at their own pace.
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Although Russ and Michael were referred to the class, self-reference is available. The program – initially six weeks in duration – is available to those who have already had a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 and have shown signs and symptoms of the virus for an extended period.
The charity said it is estimated that around one in 30 people in the North East suffer from Long Covid – which equates to around 89,000 people. The sessions involve light exercises led by instructors Rory Harrison and Liam Tierney, from the charity’s health improvement team.
Russ, 46, who works for the NHS, said Long Covid had had a profound impact on his life but that the classes had helped him start to regain some independence. The Gosforth man said: “I got Covid and was fine for the first week or so. But then I started to feel a bit of pain. I just thought it was probably post-viral.
“But it didn’t go away – and acetaminophen or ibuprofen wasn’t touching. I went to the general practitioner and they gave me some medicine to try and ease the pain. I was like that for about three months. I couldn’t “I can’t control it. And the medication I was taking prevented me from working. So I changed medication and was referred to the Long Covid clinic in RVI.”
Symptoms from it prevented him from being active and enjoying vacations with his family, he said. After the “MOT,” which sees patients referred to a number of different services by the clinic, Russ was told about the exercise group — and said it turned things around for him.
Russ added: “Regardless, I’m one of those people you can send me all the exercises you want and I’ll try them, but some of the ones I’ve been given I just couldn’t do.
“The classes have been one of the best things and have helped me a lot. There is a wonderful group dynamic and that group discussion. The most interesting thing is that nobody has the same problems. Some have breathing problems, others fatigue. It’s quite good just I really enjoyed the lessons with Rory. He’s brilliant. He knows when to put pressure on people and who might need pressure. It gave me a lot of confidence to get things done.
“I went to the Metrocentre a few weeks ago. By myself. No one had to push me in a wheelchair. I don’t think I would have ever done it without it.”
Long Covid has profoundly changed the lives of these two Newcastle men – but an innovative exercise class is their refuge
Michael Keller and Russ Watkins are full of praise for an exercise class that is slowly helping them regain independence after being hit by Long Covid.
For too long, Covid has remained a condition we know little about. But for two Newcastle men, a weekly exercise class helped them regain their health — gradually — and support each other through a life-changing illness.
Michael Keller and Russ Watkins both developed Covid in 2021 – and in different ways their symptoms persisted. Michael still, over a year later, suffers from altered sense of smell and taste, severe tinnitus, fatigue and lethargy. Russ has chronic pain and also suffers from fatigue. For each of them, these are just some of her symptoms.
But in recent months, with both being referred to Dr. Graham Burns at RVI, Russ and Michael joined a special exercise class for people with the disease run by local health charity Healthworks. The idea is to gently help those with Long Covid manage their fitness and rebuild stamina and strength – at their own pace.
Although Russ and Michael were referred to the class, self-reference is available. The program – with an initial duration of six weeks – is available to anyone who has had a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 and has shown signs and symptoms of the virus for an extended period.
The charity said it is estimated that around one in 30 people in the North East suffer from Long Covid – which equates to around 89,000 people. The sessions involve light exercises led by instructors Rory Harrison and Liam Tierney, from the institution’s health improvement team.
Russ, 46, who works for the NHS, said Long Covid had had a profound impact on his life but that the classes had helped him start to regain some independence. The Gosforth man said: “I got Covid and was fine for the first week or so. But then I started to feel a little bit of pain. I just thought it was probably post-viral.
“But it didn’t go away – and paracetamol or ibuprofen wasn’t touching. I went to the general practitioner and they gave me some medicine to try to relieve the pain. I was like that for about three months. I couldn’t “I can’t control it. And the medication I was taking prevented me from working. So I switched medication and was referred to the Long Covid clinic in RVI.”
The symptoms prevented him from being active and enjoying vacations with his family, he said. After the “MOT,” which sees patients referred to a number of different services by the clinic, Russ was told about the exercise group — and said it changed things for him.
Russ added: “Regardless of that, I’m one of those people that you can send me all the exercises you want and I’ll try them out, but some of the ones I got I just couldn’t do.
“The classes have been one of the best things and have helped me a lot. There is a wonderful group dynamic and that group discussion. The most interesting thing is that nobody has the same problems. Some have breathing problems, others tiredness. It’s quite good, I just really enjoyed the classes with Rory. He’s brilliant. He knows when to put pressure on people and who might need pressure. It gave me a lot of confidence to get things done.”
“I went to the Metrocentre a few weeks ago. By myself. No one had to push me in a wheelchair. I don’t think I would have ever done it without it.”
However, he said going to gym classes – a “heaven” – really helped. Michael added: “When I was first referred I was really hesitant to take it. I was struggling very physically. I felt like I didn’t want to put myself in a position where I could suffer. But I was delighted and surprised.
“Rory is able to motivate us, inspire us, he really understands and is able to encourage us while still letting us go at our own pace. What I gained the most was just being in that space with other people who are like us – where there is understanding and complete and utter support for each other. If someone doesn’t show up for a week, we worry.
“I don’t consider myself unlucky. I always think that things could be a lot worse. Since I started attending classes, I’ve managed to increase my effort and stamina. It’s helping me to improve my abilities – and it’s really impooooooooooooooortant on an emotional level too.”
Paul Court, chief executive of Healthworks, said: “Research has shown that symptoms of Long Covid tiredness and fatigue can be improved by increasing physical activity levels through moderate exercise and adopting positive lifestyle changes. Long Covid program of the week, for all people living with Long Covid in Newcastle.
“The program includes appropriate exercise and healthy lifestyle advice and support, and we are already seeing great results for participants. If you live in Newcastle and have a long-standing Covid diagnosis and would like to get involved in the programme, please get in touch at Contact the team.”