HOSPITAL patients on a new treatment programme for chronic back pain are prepared to go to any length to prove they are fighting the condition.

In the case of a group on Teesside, that means cycling the 1,620km from Land's End to John O'Groats on exercise bikes.

Among the 16 cyclists are Barbara Oram, of Barwick View, Ingleby Barwick, Jacqueline Jackson, of Grosvenor Road, Billingham, Bob Smith, of Iveston Grove, Billingham, Erica Akehurst, of Alford Court, Hartlepool, Karen Dryden, of Sledwick Road, Billingham, all Teesside; and Darryl Aston, of Chestnut Court, Toft Hill, near Bishop Auckland.

Not one of them had been anywhere near a bike since their childhood until they suffered serious back injury and were referred to Cleveland Nuffield Hospital's spinal rehabilitation programme, based at the David Lloyd Leisure health and fitness centre, at Thornaby.

The 12-week programme is based on the premise that strong muscles and good posture protects joints and, as well as receiving treatment and counselling, the patients undergo an intensive programme of exercise-based therapy - including cycling on exercise bikes.

"The Lands End to John O'Groats challenge is on top of all the other exercise they do, but is a perfect vehicle for testing how far their fitness has come when, a few weeks ago, they literally hobbled into the fitness centre," said physiotherapist Greg Henderson.

"It's certainly not an easy ride. They have to do it in 30km blocks - that's 13 miles of cycling.

"It's not surprising that just about every patient we've had on the course since the programme began ten months ago has left us saying their lives, never mind their bad backs, have been changed."

For more details about the programme contact (01642) 677252