Hi STEPS

HI STEPS is a rolling 12 week exercise and education programme for people following a stroke. The programme is particularly targeted at people with milder stroke symptoms who are discharged without on-going therapy input.

HI STEPS aims to build people's knowledge to manage their health and wellbeing following a stroke, their confidence to exercise and to make and sustain positive behaviour changes.

Referral criteria:

• Recent stroke symptoms, treated under the care of the UHD Stroke team
• Discharged home without therapy input
• Would be suitable for group exercise (could be independent using gym equipment/light touch support)
• Is happy/consents to participate in HI STEPS group
• Is able to independently attend Christchurch Day Hospital every Monday for 12 weeks (no hospital transport available)

Timings and Structure:

• HI STEPS runs every Monday (not bank holidays) from 12:40-14:45.
• On arrival attendees split into 2 groups each having 1 hours gym based exercise and 1 hour of education
• New participants will be asked to attend their first session early to allow 1:1 assessment with a physiotherapist before the group starts.

Meet the HI STEPS team:

HI STEPS is run by a small group of staff including:

• Lauren Higgs and Rebecca Marsh (Physiotherapists, Christchurch Day Hospital)
• Grace Jareno (Exercise Instructor, Christchurch Day Hospital)
• Stephanie Heath (Stroke Follow up Practitioner)
• Irma Konovalova (Clinical Psychologist, Stroke ESD Team)

Educational Topics included in the programme:

• What is stroke?
• Managing blood pressure?
• Benefits of exercise?
• Managing energy and fatigue
• The emotional impact of stroke
• Cholesterol management
• Doing what matters to me
• Community based support (with external guests from Help & Care, BH Live Exercise referral scheme, Live Well Dorset)
• The Stroke Association – who we are and what we do (with the East Dorset Stroke Association Support Workers)

What participants told us they got from their HI STEPS experience? (Feedback from previous HI STEPS participants)

• “Inspiration and focused knowledge”
• “The whole programme has helped, to go straight into it following my stroke gave me information and self-help tips I wouldn't have known, mentally it helped just knowing that help is at hand”.
• “Information/confidence to move forward. Ability to change my life the correct way.”
• “Improved confidence, education about statins”
• “Increased strength and a visible improvement by recording exercises done. Increased my knowledge on stroke related topics”

How to find us:

If you are attending the HI STEPS Group at Christchurch Hospital for the first time, once on the hospital site, follow the signs for the Day Hospital and park in Car Park C. Enter the building via the Day hospital entrance and check in at the reception desk. A parking permit will be provided for you for the duration of the programme.

HI STEPS Resources:

• Welcome pack for new HI STEPS participants
• HI STEPS fatigue diary

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