David Lloyd Clubs Rolling Out New Women's Health Program Featuring Power Plate

David Lloyd Clubs is stepping up its commitment to women’s health as it continues to explore what fit-for-purpose really looks like for the female population.

What does it mean to truly support your members? This is a question that’s currently being asked at David Lloyd Clubs, where a vision and ambition to serve every individual across every life stage is driving fresh thinking across the breadth of its offering.

A growing focus on women’s health is a pivotal part of this agenda – something the industry has historically fallen short in understanding or delivering, says Michelle Dand, David Lloyd Clubs’ head of product and programming.

But while this industry-wide criticism might once have applied to David Lloyd Clubs, under Dand’s guidance things are changing.

Across its estate, every club now has a dedicated female health lead, trained to deliver regular seminars on topics ranging from pelvic health and breast support to puberty, menstrual cycle training, menopause and injury resilience. These sessions are designed not only to inform and signpost onwards, but to connect: creating safe spaces where members can come together with others like them, sharing experiences that have historically gone unspoken.

Supporting this is a broader push on team education. Recognising that standard industry qualifications offer limited insight into female physiology, David Lloyd Clubs has developed comprehensive internal training across a broad range of female health topics. This includes trailblazing modules on menopause: a deeper, applied level for fitness professionals that focuses on training adaptation, but also a foundational level designed to enhance understanding among all team members.

A focus on bone health

Programming is evolving in parallel. New concepts such as BATTLEBOX & Buggies and SPIRIT Pre- and Post are designed to support women through and beyond pregnancy, while in-app communities and educational content aim to extend that support beyond the gym floor.

There’s also an exciting new pilot initiative, launched in partnership with Performance Health Systems, that combines Screen My Bones with Power Plate for a ‘screen to solution’ bone health programme.

For Dand, the preventative aspect is key: “Bone health is something we don’t talk about enough, yet it underpins everything as we age. By the time issues are picked up through traditional routes, it can often be too late. We want to provide our members with insight much earlier so they have a chance to act.”

Currently live in four clubs, the pilot introduces advanced bone health screening via Screen My Bones’ REMS technology. The solution then lies in Power Plate, whose whole-body vibration (WBV) technology is proven to stimulate bone formation and positively impact bone density.

To ensure its team are fully trained in the science and bone health application of WBV, David Lloyd Clubs has written a skeletal health training module that includes the role of vibration training, upskilling its PTs and wider teams on Power Plate and its benefits for a wide range of different users.

There has also been a reinvestment in Power Plate, with the latest pro8 model installed in the pilot clubs, plus three further locations.

“Power Plate is one of those pieces of equipment that can support so many different life stages and needs, from skeletal health and active ageing to rehabilitation, performance and recovery,” says Dand. “But like anything, it’s only as effective as the knowledge behind it. That’s why the training piece is so important.”

A lifelong vision

David Lloyd Clubs’ bone health initiative is deliberately inclusive: although introduced as part of the women’s health initiative, reflecting the higher risk of issues among peri- and post-menopausal women, it is open – and applicable – to all members.

It is early days for the pilot, with rollout decisions to be guided by member uptake and engagement. Yet for Dand, success is defined less by immediate scale and more by long-term impact.

“Yes, there’s a commercial lens – we have to make these things work – but the vision is bigger than that,” she explains. “Fundamentally, it’s about adding value for our members, making sure we have the products, the education and the environment to support every member at every stage of their life.

“If we can help people understand their bodies better, train more effectively and stay healthier for longer, that’s a win.”

“It’s incredibly exciting to see David Lloyd Clubs leading from the front, launching a joined-up MSK model that combines assessment, education and targeted training,” says Iain Murray, managing director UK & Ireland for Performance Health Systems. “This initiative has the potential to genuinely change lives, particularly in the context of women’s health.”