Bounce Back Exercise Panel Review

Background

Bounce Back Exercise is an exercise platform specifically designed for people with Parkinson’s and other long-term health conditions, including cancer and multiple sclerosis (MS). The programme focuses on areas including strength, fitness, mobility, coordination, posture and balance.

Bounce Back Exercise was set up by clinical exercise specialist Beth Boxall in 2020. While studying sport and exercise psychology, Beth saw first-hand how tailored, enjoyable exercise could help people with Parkinson’s, MS and cancer. The exercises helped regain confidence in their bodies, manage their symptoms, and feel stronger both physically and mentally. Beth decided to create not just an exercise programme, but a welcoming community where people could feel supported while working towards better health.

She began developing Bounce Back in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people had limited access to gyms, rehabilitation and support groups. The online programme launched later that year. Beth told the Tech Guide: “Our mission at Bounce Back is to help you find the workout that suits your physical and clinical needs, helps you achieve your goals, and most importantly you enjoy.

“The focus is not only on movement but on building confidence, improving quality of life, and making exercise something that feels achievable and fun, even when living with a challenging diagnosis.”

First impressions

Instructions and getting started

Before joining a class, you need to set up an online account on the Bounce Back Exercise website. The only personal information requested is an email address and password. Then you’ll receive a welcome email from founder Beth with next steps and helpful information like how to access the class timetable and what additional equipment is needed.

Most reviewers  found the instructions clear, with one reviewer describing them as “all clear and user-friendly”.

However, a 70-year-old reviewer found the instructions a little confusing: “The email was slightly dense in text and it wasn’t very clear how to proceed with getting the exercises.”

They also had some issues with the email’s readability. “There’s a lot of text cramped together with few spaces between paragraphs.”

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Virtual classes

All the live classes are presented on video-conferencing application Zoom. Most of the reviewers were already familiar with Zoom and comfortable using it. “For me, this was straightforward from day one. Everything works through Zoom which is pretty invincible,” said one reviewer. 

A reviewer who had not downloaded Zoom before felt the instructions to do so were not clear. They said: “I found the instructions for setting up Zoom and connecting to the classes could have more details to follow to make it clearer. Once it was set up, the product was easy to use.”

Every Monday, Beth hosts a ‘new members welcome chat’ 15 minutes before the morning class begins to welcome new members and have a brief conversation.

Class timetable 

Classes run every day except Wednesdays. There is one class on most days, and two classes some days. The varied timetable incorporates balance and gait training, strength, and cardio and condition-specific exercises. All the classes take place during the day, usually in the late morning or in the early afternoon. There is one evening class that starts at 5pm. Classes last between 15 and 45 minutes. (This information is correct at the time of publication and is subject to change).

A reviewer who is a carer for their terminally ill partner said there was a good selection of exercises. “Anyone with issues getting out of the house either due to caring responsibilities or their own health can get the exercise they need by using the app. There is enough variety to ensure ongoing interest.”

One reviewer suggested that it “might be beneficial to show whether each class is for beginners, intermediate or advanced.” However, the instructors share classes modification options, so whether someone feels strong one day or needs to take it easier the next, there’s always a way to take part.

Daily life

Although physical activity and exercise are not a cure for Parkinson’s, research shows that it can really help people manage the physical symptoms, as well as improve mood and mental health. Research shows everyone should try to be active for at least 2.5 hours a week. If you join Bounce Back Exercise and do all their classes, you would pass this goal.

The programme offers live classes, the option to re-watch those live classes and there are also pre-recorded workouts.

During the live classes

All the reviewers took part in a selection of the live classes and most of them enjoyed the classes and find them beneficial.

A reviewer who didn’t exercise at all before this testing said: “It seems like just the thing to start me off to get some exercise.” 

Several reviewers reported improvement to their quality of life and their fitness. One reviewer said using Bounce Back Exercise helped improve their flexibility and mobility while another said it helped maintain their mobility and coordination.

Beth leads all the exercise classes except the dance class which is taught by professional dancer Steph.

The reviewers found the instructors “welcoming” and “helpful”. A 64-year-old reviewer who has had Parkinson’s for five years said: “Beth was very good in the live classes and you can follow at your own pace.”

Another reviewer agreed: “The instructors were helpful and very knowledgeable, constantly monitoring the group and making adjustments as necessary. Other group members were friendly and welcoming.” This reviewer particularly enjoyed the dance class, describing it as “so joyful”.

There was one reviewer who did not enjoy the classes, as without background music they were “boring”. They said: “I found just looking at the instructor without music or directions constantly was boring. Low soothing music in classes would be beneficial.”

On the website, Beth explains: “We don’t play music during the classes however if you would like to listen to music during your workouts, I recommend you put on your own music playlist to play in the background.” The only class that does play music is the dance class.

The same reviewer also explained that there was an occasion where Beth’s dog appeared in the shot and another where she could see the bins being collected outside through the window. They said that the distractions “didn’t promote a professional approach”. 

The video library

All the live sessions in the week are recorded so members can catch up or repeat classes whenever it suits them.

There are also pre-recorded workouts that target particular specific challenges like balance, foot drop or postural problems. The platform also has a collection of shorter classes ranging from 5-20 minutes long for days when you’re low on energy or short on time.

A reviewer who regularly attends a local exercise class found the video library good for working around her schedule. 

“I have a regular chair Pilates class which I attend three times a week and balancing these with down time and live classes is difficult. That was the value of having the members’ library to access the classes I missed.”

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Similarly, a reviewer who likes the social aspect of in-person classes, liked that they could also workout at home during their own time.

“I attend exercise classes at my local Parkinson’s group. It allows for more camaraderie and building relationships, However, the downside of this is if you miss the session there is no online alternative at a later time.”

One reviewer really appreciated the flexibility that the mix of live workouts, video library and recorded sessions offered. They said: “I am currently caring for my husband who has a terminal cancer diagnosis. Without access to this I would be struggling to get enough exercise through this really difficult stage in my life.”

Members’ community

Members have the option to join the Bounce Back Exercise WhatsApp group for regular updates. Two reviewers found the volume of messages quite annoying.

One reviewer described them as “mildly irritating” while the other called them “intrusive”. 

A different reviewer did not have a problem with the message alerts but they said they didn’t use the group enough to have built a relationship with others.

Value

A Bounce Back Exercise membership costs £34 a month. For those who wanted to ‘try before you buy’, they offer a 7-day free trial. The monthly membership includes the live weekly classes and full access to both the recorded live classes and the full video library.

Some of the exercises require dumbbells or weights. You can buy these separately, or use tin cans or water bottles as a cost-effective substitute. You’ll also need to buy a resistance band for some of the exercises. 

Most of the review panel thought the package was good value for money, with just one reviewer concerned by the price.

A 64-year-old reviewer who was diagnosed five years ago said it was cheaper than their gym membership and “you get a personal trainer who can be contacted for advice and help.” 

Conversely, a different reviewer said Bounce Back Exercise is more expensive than their local gym that “has a wide variety of classes and gym equipment available”. But they added “it is worth the price to someone who is stuck at home”.

This reviewer still said they were extremely pleased with their Bounce Back Exercise experience and they have “already recommended this to a number of people”. In fact, many of the reviewers were very happy to recommend the programme. Four out of six reviewers said they were “very likely” to tell others with Parkinson’s about Bounce Back Exercise.

One reviewer thought the monthly price tag was too expensive for those struggling financially. They said: “I think it’s expensive, although there are a lot of sessions on offer.”