Margaret

A Lanarkshire grandmother has been able to avoid major surgery for a painful spinal condition thanks to a social enterprise whose unique exercise technique has been shortlisted for a coveted award.

Margaret Barnes was a super-fit badminton player and keen runner until she was struck with spondylolisthesis, which occurs when when one of the vertebrae – the bones of the spine – slips out of place onto the vertebra below it, causing severe pain in the lower back.

Since 73-year-old Margaret discovered Lanarkshire community fitness programme the MorphFit Gentle Movement Project almost three years ago, her symptoms have eased considerably.

The MorphFit brand was launched in 2006 by personal trainer Kenneth Muir, whose aim is to help and encourage older people, those who are rehabilitating from illness or injury, and those living with medical conditions, including MS, diabetes and cancer.

Five years later, Kenneth, of East Kilbride, was himself diagnosed with skin cancer and had to undergo surgery, skin grafts and lymph node biopsies to remove the melanoma and determine the diagnosis.

His own cancer journey brought into sharp focus the dearth of rehabilitation services available to people who have acute health conditions.

To address isolation imposed by the pandemic and lockdown, Kenneth and his small team of fitness professionals established a digital platform to pilot their Gentle Movement exercise programme to connect society’s most vulnerable people and ensure they stay safe and mobile.

In its first year alone, they delivered online programmes to the Beatson, the Haven, Sense Scotland, Lanarkshire Carers Association, MS Society Lanarkshire, MS Society Scotland, and to groups for older people.

In recognition of the profound, positive impact the programme has on people like Margaret, the MorphFit Gentle Movement Project has been announced as one of the 25 finalists in the prestigious 2022 Social Enterprise Awards Scotland.

The Hamilton-based project will battle it out with four other finalists for the Health and Social Care category crown at an awards ceremony at the Scottish Parliament on November 1.

Describing it as “an honour and privilege” to be nominated and shortlisted in this year’s Social Enterprise Scotland Awards, director Kenneth said: “From our inception in 2019, our sole aim was to deliver a programme initially on a digital platform and now with a choice of both digital and onsite services that would be fully inclusive to the elderly and most vulnerable populations in society.

“Over the last two and a half years we have put together a dedicated team who all share the same passion which is to deliver a service back into the community that helps with physical care and ability, mental health and social inclusion via the MorphFit Gentle Movement Programme.”

Gran-of-seven Margaret was initially introduced to Kenneth when he worked at the gym at Strathclyde Park, where she would regularly run. There, he helped ease any sports injuries through physiotherapy and exercise.

At a time when she was having injections in her spine, she began attending the MorphFit Gentle Movement classes run by instructor Nicola Pollock at the project’s Bothwell Road studio in Hamilton.

“The exercise class is amazing. It is just so good,” Margaret told Lanarkshire Live.

The Larkhall gran was such a keen runner and enthusiastic member of recreational running network JogScotland, that she was invited to take on the role of Number 1 runner when, a decade ago, Strathclyde Park played host to Race for Life – an event in which she participated every year.

Inspirational Margaret also addressed fellow race participants and cancer charity representatives when she took the lectern at the Alona Hotel on race day.

Although her spinal conditional has robbed her of her ability to run and play badminton at the Tryst Sports Centre in Cumbernauld where she once lived, the MorphFit Gentle Movement classes each Tuesday allow her to remain active.

Not only do the sessions keep her mobile, ease her stiffness and improve her walking, they have also introduced her to new friends from all over Lanarkshire, some of whom have been referred to MorphFit by their GP.

“When people come at first, they can be a wee bit unsure,” explained retired Warburton’s bakery receptionist, Margaret, who was, until her involvement with MorphFit's gentle movement sessions facing the daunting prospect of major surgery on her spine.

“People are frightened of the idea of exercising. If anyone is considering giving it a try, I’d say definitely do it. Do not think that exercise means you’re going into a gym with a lot of people in leotards.

"It is very relaxed. You just wear your ordinary clothes. You will have a chair to sit on, and you can just do what you can manage.

"The music is good, and afterwards, we all have a wee chat and get to know everybody.”

The fact that Margaret and her partner Jim Cowan can now plan long haul trips to Australia and New Zealand to be reunited with family pays testimony to the significant improvement the MorphFit Gentle Movement approach has made to her health and wellbeing.

“Don’t be afraid to go,” urged Margaret. “The first step is getting you there. After that, you’re fine.”

By Niki Tenant for The Daily Record