Fit for Life is a medically supervised exercise program designed by Adirondack Health's exercise physiologists. Our staff provides safe exercise, support and education to improve your overall quality of life by addressing a particular medical condition.
We will work with you to set goals based on your fitness level, lifestyle, medical needs and personal desires. Fit for Life offers the option of meeting two or three times per week for up to an hour.
Classes are offered in Saranac Lake, Lake Placid and Tupper Lake. The average length of participation is three months. After patients graduate, they have the option of participating in a post-Fit for Life program.
Each session begins with measuring baseline vital signs. Vital signs include blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen levels and, if a person's condition demands, blood glucose levels. An exercise physiologist will monitor these vital signs during and at the end of the exercise session.
Understanding your condition provides the pathway to making changes. Small changes made consistently over time make a difference. Whether it's improving strength, nutrition or mobility, our staff personalizes learning based on a person's specific needs.
Exercise will be at the center of each session. They include aerobic exercises such as riding a stationary bike, walking on a treadmill or using an arm bike. Stretching exercises and strength training are used as well to increase mobility and improve daily living abilities.
From the very beginning, the Fit for Life staff is in communication with the individual's physician to provide the best possible care. Periodic progress reports are sent to the physician based on changes in medical condition and response to exercise.
The program is billed on a monthly basis. The cost of the program was established to be affordable for everyone. If an insurance company provides a wellness stipend, there may be reimbursement for the monthly fees.
Adirondack Health also offers a financial counselor who can work with participants to establish lower payments if required.
Patients need a doctor's referral and medical clearance to join the program, or call the Fit for Life office for help in getting a referral.
Medical conditions treated through Fit for Life:
Once a person has become independent and can monitor vital signs as part of an exercise routine, they have the opportunity to graduate to the post-Fit for Life program held in Saranac Lake.
In the post-program, patients do exercise routines more independently, though staff are available if they have a question or need help. There is a monthly fee for this program.
For more information or to join a class, please contact:
Andrea Chamberlain
Fit for Life Coordinator
Phone: 518-897-2271
Fax: 518-897-2880
Email: ffl@adirondackhealth.org
Our other medically supervised fitness program is called MedFit. MedFit is designed for people interested in a fitness program, but feel there are medical concerns preventing effective exercise. Specific health circumstances, such as an injury, obesity, diabetes or other metabolic syndromes or back pain, can often be addressed through a comprehensive approach to fitness.
MedFit's 60-minute sessions are tailored to each person's individual needs. We can help meet your goals, whether they are a desire to lose weight, prevent an injury, learn more about exercise, or to relieve aches, pains, strains and sprains.
You receive one-on-one personal attention from a rehabilitation staff member. We can meet with you at our clinic, in your home for an additional charge, or at the local fitness facility of your choice. Programs are directed by certified athletic trainers or exercise physiologists - professionals who understand how disease and dysfunction relate to personal fitness.
The cost is $40 per session. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call the Adirondack Health physical therapy clinic closest to you.
