By Erin Jester
Like any college town, Gainesville is dense with gyms and fitness studios for every activity, from CrossFit to rock climbing. But for locals who need specialized exercise routines due to neurological disorders or aging, there is only one place to go for free group classes: the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions.
At the Department of Physical Therapy’s clinical space, on the second floor of the CVS at 1621 SW 13th St., classes provide Alachua County residents a chance to work up a sweat while doctor of physical therapy students and faculty supervisors guide them through tailored exercises.
On tap are the Gaitor Challenge, a weekly walking and exercise class for older adults, and the Neuro Wellness program, a high-intensity circuit exercise class designed for people with neurological disorders. UF physical therapy students lead both classes.
“The mission is to provide options to exercise, with resources,” said Shakeel Ahmed, Ph.D., a clinical assistant professor of physical therapy and a faculty adviser for the Gaitor Challenge.
That program started about 15 years ago as an outdoor walking group and transitioned to the indoor space last year. Each class — held from 5 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays — includes a vitals check and warmup. Then, leaders crank up the music and get started.
John Highsmith, 83, and his wife Dianna, 77, joined the Gaitor Challenge in 2018 for the social aspect and for managing chronic health conditions. Plus, they can do it together.
“When she’s feeling good, I’m feeling good,” John Highsmith said.
The Neuro Wellness program grew out of a care gap that faculty members noticed while supervising the Physical Therapy Equal Access Clinic — a UF resource that offers pro bono physical therapy services to medically underserved people in Gainesville. It became clear that local people living with neurological disorders needed exercise but could not always access regular gyms, so three years ago, the department expanded its offerings to include that community.
“A lot of people with neurological conditions need assistance to work out safely,” said Kelly Hawkins, a research assistant professor of physical therapy. “But signing up for personal training once or twice a week is a significant financial hit.”
Class participants have had a range of diagnoses: stroke, Parkinson’s disease, cerebellar ataxia, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.
During the Gaitor Challenge class, physical therapy students take participants through 12-minute circuits incorporating resistance bands, free weights and kettlebells, sometimes with assistive devices like grip assists or harnesses. Students and supervisors monitor participants’ heart rates throughout the class to make sure no one is working past their safe ranges.
“The whole goal of this class is to push them to their limits,” second-year physical therapy student Madelyn Corliss said.
To get involved in the Gaitor Challenge, email Shakeel Ahmed at shakeel81@phhp.ufl.edu. To learn more about the Neuro Wellness program, email Kelly Hawkins at khawkinsdpt@phhp.ufl.edu or Rachelle Studer-Byrnes at rstuder@phhp.ufl.edu.
Erin Jester is a writer for the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions. She is an alumna of UF’s College of Journalism and Communications.
