GM Active has entered into a strategic partnership with Innerva, specialists in power-assisted exercise, to help people across Greater Manchester live healthy, happy and longer lives.

Over the next 12 months, Innerva will work with the GM Active consortium of leisure and community organisations to help engage harder to reach communities, particularly older adults and those with long term conditions, in regular and where appropriate rehabilitative, activity.

With traditional gyms and fitness equipment failing to appeal to the majority of inactive older adults, power assisted exercise provides a viable active wellbeing solution for the growing ageing population of Greater Manchester.

Jon Hymus, Commercial Director at Innerva says: “In 15 years’ time, it’s estimated that 1.1 million people in Greater Manchester will be over the age 50 – that’s 37 per cent of the city-region population.* We are delighted to be working with GM Active to support more people to be physically active as they age with a research-backed solution that is immediately accessible for older adults who are unwilling or unable to use traditional exercise equipment.”

Together, GM Active and Innerva will share their knowledge and expertise to meet the needs of older adults and people with health conditions to improve local health outcomes and help people enjoy more years of good physical and mental health as they age.

Academic research shows that the Innerva solution has proven health and wellbeing benefits for older adults and those with long term health and mobility issues, and also supports broader integrated health and social care priorities. Seventy per cent of Innerva users say they can move better as a result of using the power assisted equipment, while 90 per cent report improvements in their mental health.

By targeting the older adult demographic, the Innerva solution attracts loyal new users to generate new sustainable revenue streams – research shows that three quarters of Innerva users visit three or more times a week.

Jon Keating, GM Active’s Head of Business Operations, says: “Innerva and all our business partners have a niche role to play in our collective vision and mission. We are delighted to welcome Innerva aboard and look forward to working with the team, to mutually benefit from the knowledge and expertise they bring to the GM Active cause.”