Chronic Disease Management Exercise Programme

Evidence-based exercise programme designed to help participants manage their chronic condition by enhancing physical fitness and emotional well-being.
Help in mitigating deconditioning, which can lead to a reduced quality of life.
Enjoyable and positive social experience by exercising in a group setting, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.

What is the Chronic Disease Management Programme?

The CDM Programme is an HSE-funded, 12-week, expert-led adapted physical activity programme designed to help participants build confidence, ability, and enjoyment in exercise. Combining tailored exercise classes, practical education, and a supportive, fun environment, the programme promotes long-term healthy behaviour change and improved self-management.

Benefits of exercise for people living with a chronic condition

Becoming deconditioned or ‘unfit’ due to inactivity is common when living with a long-term condition. Our programme offers safe, supervised, and patient-centred exercise to help improve physical fitness, mental well-being, and confidence, all while having fun in a supportive environment that focuses on what you can do!

Participants can build new healthy habits, meet friends, and see fitness improvements while gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of staying active.

Classes location

Dublin South West

Rua Red Arts Centre, D24 KV8N

Monday | 9:30 - 10:30 and 10:30 - 11:30 am

Thursday | 9:30 - 10:30 am

Friday | 13:30 - 14:30 pm

Dublin South City West

St Catherine's Community Centre, D08 W5WC

Wednesday and Friday

9:00 - 10:00 am

Naas

Monread Community Centre, W91 FNV9

Tuesday and Thursday

14:30 - 15:30 pm

Athy

ARCH Community Hall, R14 EW20

Tuesday and Friday

10:00 - 11:00 am

Programme's framework

The Chronic Disease Management programme includes 2 classes per week for 12 weeks, blending exercise and education in a fun social setting. Each class lasts for 45 to 60 minutes, including:

Warming up and cool down
Aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, rowing, cycling...)
Strength (weights, resistance bands, bodyweight...)
Balance, mobility and flexibility
Standing and seated options for all ability levels

The programme includes monthly induction blocks to allow participants to join at regular intervals.

Each induction involves a physical fitness assessment and health-screening questionnaire to ensure the programme is safe, appropriate, and tailored to individual needs.

For more information about the induction blocks, contact us at cdmreferrals@sielbleu.ie.

All of our physical trainers have a minimum level 8 degree qualification in a relevant area (including exercise and health sciences, physiotherapy, nursing…) and experience working with chronic conditions and special populations.

Who can join the programme

The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) Programme is tailored for all individuals living with a long-term condition, such as:

How to join the programme

Get a medical referral

This can be from any healthcare professionals (GP, consultant, physiotherapist, OT, nurse…)

Send us your referral

All referrals must be sent by email or posted to us.

Do your induction

Once we receive the referral, we will contact you to invite you to an available induction date.

Start the programme

After the induction, enjoy 2 weekly sessions for the next 12 weeks.

The referral form must be sent by email at cdmreferrals@sielbleu.ie or posted to Siel Bleu Ireland, 18 Eustace Street, Dublin 2, D02 WR51.

Refer a Patient Today!

I have found my fitness levels have increased a lot sine I joined in the zoom exercises.I usually try to get at least two classes a week & I know my health has improved greatly since so thank you so much for giving us such choices of classes including the different times & levels.

I attend a weekly class for people living with arthritis & can only say that our instructor Conor is brilliant! He puts up with a lot from us oldies, but gets us doing more than we ever thought we could - I know my mobility & balance have improved greatly since starting the class. Highly recommend these classes.

Motivational, inspirational, kind, understanding and humourous are just some of the traits which our 'fitness guru' Shannagh possesses. While exercising she shares with us her exploits on the football and camogie fields and we share with her our stories. I could go on. We are blessed to have Shannagh visit our Shed every week.

Siel Bleu's weekly Chair Aerobics facilitators have been so amazing that our large group have requested a 2nd weekly class! We don't feel the hour going. Some of us are retired and benefit from the exercises for balance and fitness and some of us are recovery from replacement operations and respiratory illness. We love the comraderie of the group, the support given to us my the facilitator and the music in the background to keep us going.