Spectrum Fitness launches new gym program
By Heather Michon, correspondent
Change is good.
When Health Nutz closed at Crofton Plaza earlier this year, their neighbors at Spectrum Physical Therapy took notice. After over 20 years in the same space, they thought it might be good to have some room to stretch out a bit.
But they soon developed a more expansive vision for the building. Why not offer physical therapy and a gym?
“Their thinking was that it’s a natural progression. When you end physical therapy, they usually tell you to go work out,” said Tami Russell. “Nobody does.”
Russell, an experienced personal trainer, is fitness manager of the new facility. She believes a big part of the reason physical therapy patients fail to follow the recommendation to exercise is that they aren’t sure how to it.
At the same time, many people join a gym only to find themselves equally at a loss in setting up a program, or worse, injure themselves through improper use of equipment or overdoing it, and either end up dropping out or having to visit a physical therapist to recover.
Russell said the goal is to have the physical therapy staff and the personal trainer staff work seamlessly and “go above and beyond to make exercise enjoyable and safe.”
Carly Bach, clinic director of Spectrum Physical Therapy, said that staff and patients are very happy in their new airy new treatment room and excited by the potential of the fitness center.
Spectrum is part of the Ivy Rehab Network, and out of over 100 Ivy partners nationwide, Bach said she knows of only one other than also offers a gym.
It’s added some challenge to setting up such a novel service. “There’s no checklist. There’s no book for what we’re doing. We’re writing the book,” she said.
Workout machines are lined up and ready and the finishing touches are being put on the Coffee and Hydration Station, where people can sit and have a drink or a chat. A classroom will be up and running early next year.
Spectrum Fitness Center will offer two main membership packages: a $29 per month basic and a $39 per month medical membership.
Both membership tiers include 24/7 access to the workout facility and saunas, but the medical membership includes semiannual body metrics screening, including health and fitness assessment and goal tracking with the physical therapy staff, and coordination of care with your primary care providers.
Members will have access to on-site personal trainers on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (on Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon), and the physical therapy staff will be ready to give advice as issues arise.
Family members can join for $10 a month extra on either membership level.
Russell added that these are month-to-month memberships with no contract: “If you need to leave for three months to travel, for example, you don’t have to worry about suspending your account. You can just pick up when you come back.”
The grand opening is set for Oct. 27, but for those too curious to wait, the building will be open for visitors starting around Oct. 15.
For more information, visit http://www.IvyRehab.com/SpectrumFitness .
