Get Fit For Surgery - Active Communities Referral

What you need to know:

Get Fit for Surgery is a physical activity referral programme led by our experienced Active Communities team.

Get Fit for Surgery supports patients on the NHS waiting list who are awaiting surgery for their hip or knee. The programme supports people to get active and stay active prior to their operation date.

You will be invited to attend an initial 1-1 consultation with your instructor. You will then take part in weekly, supervised, physical activity sessions designed to improve your overall health, wellbeing, and confidence. They will include cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, balance, and coordination.

While you are taking part in Get Fit for Surgery you will receive ongoing support and motivation from your instructor, along with FREE access to Edinburgh Leisure’s gyms and pools to help you prepare for surgery.

Get Fit for Surgery is delivered by Edinburgh Leisure, in partnership with the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership.

Name: Argy Rizos MA Hons, Level 3 Diploma in Supporting Clients with Long-term Health Conditions.

Job Title: Health Instructor (PREHAB)

How many years of experience in physical activity sector:

Argy has ten years of experience in delivering group activity sessions in athletics and fitness and is currently supporting clients with physical health conditions.

Education:

Argy is a qualified gym and fitness instructor, specialising in long-term health conditions; UK Athletics licenced coaching assistant; Social Anthropology graduate with key interests in the relationship between socio-economic challenges, leisure, urban space, and social organisation.

What is your passion/do you like doing in your spare time away from work/hobbies:

Argy likes music, training, and competitions (long-distance running/cycling), nature and environment, film, and volunteering.

Why Get Fit for Surgery?:

“’Get Fit for Surgery’ felt, and has proven to be, an ideal fit for my experience – professional and academic – and my ideals as a person: I believe in the prevention of, rather than a response to problems. Although the programme is directed to people that already experience health issues, it does follow the philosophy that by building a strong physical foundation, future issues can, and should be alleviated or avoided altogether”.