We meet every Wednesday at the Avon Orthopedic Centre at Southmead Hospital starting at 7:00pm, for various sessions of gym-based physiotherapy exercise, and hydrotherapy-pool-based exercises which take place over the next one and a half hours.

Actual session timings are currently subject to variation as we experiment to try to cater for fluctuating demand. Numbers attending can vary between 10 and 30 on any given week, and both the gym and the hydrotherapy pool have limits on the number of people who can successfully use them simultaneously.

The schedule currently looks like this :

Session Times :        (as at 15th May 2007)

The gym session will start at 7.00pm, we need to start the group at 7.00pm prompt to get full use of the time available.

At 7.30pm those that wish to go to the pool for the first session will go, while the rest continue in the gym.

The hydrotherapy sessions will be at 7.30-8.00pm, 8.00-8.30pm Those who wish to only attend for hydro should ideally attend ready for the first session where practicable, but it's recognised there are those who are unable to make that time. The second sessions need to be available for those who are taking part in the gym exercises and should be on a rotational basis as to who has first and second session, exceptions apart. We need to be as flexible as possible with timing, if very busy you may be asked to join the later session.

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Please note that we need to make sure each session runs on time so if you are in the 8.00pm group then you need to be ready to get into the pool at 8.00pm not 8.10. Similarly we need to be in the gym at 7.00pm at the latest (exceptions apart e.g. work commitments and travelling to the AOC) - late arrivals prevent a proper structure to the group warm up, and can be very disruptive for those who have started.

IT IS ESSENTIAL TO WARM UP CORRECTLY TO PREVENT INJURIES - THIS IS FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT.

We need to sort out at the start of the gym session who wishes to do what for the evening - e.g. who wants to do hydro 1st or 2nd session, who wishes to do stretches and mat work, and those who wish to do circuits.

If you wish to just take part in the one gym option or split your time and do a bit of both, getting people allocated to sessions right at the start of the evening allows us all to go straight from one range of exercise to the next without wasting time and "cooling down" whilst spending 5 or 10 minutes deciding on who is doing what next.

Those people who arrive after the grouping has been arranged - particularly those who wish to attend for the pool only - should sign in and check for space as soon as they arrive (do not wait outside in the waiting area until the sessions are starting). In these cases we will try to fit you in on the next available session subject to space.

Where possible, those attending for hydro only are asked to try to be available ready for the 7.30 group - this will alleviate the over-subscribing of the later group. If you arrive later than 7.30 then subject to spaces you will be allocated an 8.00 slot, but there is a risk that none will be available.

IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES you must sign the register - this is for insurance purposes, and all attending MUST join The National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society - this will give the insurance cover needed. Forms are available from ourselves or from the NASS website .

This is a form of relaxation massage (with nods in the direction of shiatsu) in water, performed for those who want it by some of the physio staff. Sessions take place at the same time as (and in place of) the regular weekly exercise sessions, and a maximum of two people can be accomodated on any one evening. Those who are booked in for this should make themselves available by 6.45pm at the latest, changed and ready, though sometimes we may not be able to start until 7.00pm as the RA group have the pool until this time (although they don't always use it). The treatment will last until 7.30pm.

Please bear in mind that those having HR need to be measured before and after their treatment, which does take time.

Hydro Relaxation contributions will be £15.00 per person per session; the register for this will be held by Paul so that we can control the cycle of repetition so each member has a chance to be treated before others have a second and third session. Please ensure that before you have HR you tell Rachel when you are booked in if you have any problems such as hip replacements (or other joints) and particularly if you have or ever had epilepsy or any unexplained fits or blackouts either recently or in the past even as a child. This is not normally a problem but the Physios need to be aware of it due to the fact you go into a state of very deep relaxation; this is for your own safety so please mention it.

If you would like to make a donation to the group, please contact us for ways to donate

IF you are a UK tax payer make use of the "Gift Aid Scheme"

this allows us to claim extra money from the chancellor without costing you a penny extra!

If you are a business and would like to donate goods or services for our regular fundraising events we will be very happy to arrange collection where needed, we are creating a sponsors page with links to all organisations who are able to support us in any way.

We are an entirely charitable organisation both locally (voluntary) and nationally, without goodwill and donations we could not provide the highly valued services that we do at present.

PLEASE SUPPORT US.

Thank You.