Adults with learning disabilities are benefiting from interactive fitness classes at a leisure centre in Hertsmere.

Watford Mencap is using the latest gaming technology in the Xergaming zone at The Venue in Borehamwood as part of its Leisure Together service to provide social, leisure and creative activities to its members.

The adults, aged between 20 and 45, have been working out on ZigZag’s arcade-style dance platforms, Exer-Station Pro game controllers, and 8ft x 4ft interactive Sportwalls.  

“The Sportwall is especially helpful for people that have difficulty with reading, motor planning, physical co-ordination, attention span and body awareness,” said Fergus Ahern, children’s fitness expert and Director of ZigZag.  “It provides heightened levels of stimulation to ‘jump-start’ neglected areas of motor co-ordination and neurological wiring and is kinetic training where the entire body is engaged, including the senses, so it’s more relevant in terms of fundamental movement and motor skills.”

The Sportwalls offer hundreds of games based on points/lives won and lost, where players score against the clock by zapping lights on the panels, simultaneously tracking a ball, targets, sounds, scores and a time clock, earning extra points for skill, speed, cardiovascular stamina and team co-operation. 

Brenda Pegg, the Hertford Leisure Together co-ordinator said:  “I approached The Venue last year as were keen to help our members access leisure facilities in the local community.  We ran four very successful sessions - our autistic members seemed to do particularly well.  Everyone enjoyed it and showed a lot of enthusiasm for the interactive games, which provided a way for some of our more active members to enjoy fast-paced exercise that could be programmed for their particular level of fitness, while the less fit members could also work at their own pace.”

Jason Speller, Fitness Manager at The Venue agreed.  He said: “The Zone is perfect for these adults.  It all singing, dancing, lights, arrows, bells and whistles.  It’s real excitement to them every time they go in.  The dance platforms in particular have been a great success.  It doesn’t matter if they can’t keep up with the arrows as they’re still exercising and having fun.”

Watford Mencap is planning to run further sessions with its members in the New Year.