Sheltering Arms to open rehab and fitness center at Regency mall in Henrico

Sheltering Arms, a nonprofit physical rehabilitation organization, has signed a lease for nearly 25,000 square feet on the second floor of the former Forever 21 store at Regency mall in western Henrico County, Richmond BizSense reported.

The new facility will dedicate about 13,000 square feet to adaptive and medical fitness programs designed for people with disabilities and middle-aged or older adults at high risk of chronic diseases. These programs help participants manage and learn to use exercise equipment.

Currently, Sheltering Arms offers these exercise programs within its therapy clinics across the region, but they are not the primary focus of those shared spaces. The Regency location will provide a dedicated space to expand these fitness offerings significantly.

In addition to the fitness area, the facility will include a 1,200 to 1,500 square foot outpatient physical therapy clinic under the Sheltering Arms Institute banner, which is a joint nonprofit venture with VCU Health. This clinic will have offices, treatment rooms, and access to the gym.

Sheltering Arms President and CEO Dianne Jewell explained that co-locating therapy and fitness programs will help clients transition more smoothly between services and allow staff to better monitor their progress.