Belgian gym operator, Jims – owned by the supermarket chain Colruyt Group – has launched a physiotherapy arm, named Prime Physio.

Working with two physiotherapist practices, Jims launched the brand this week. There are currently 10 Jims clubs offering physio and plans to make this the largest physiotherapy network in the country.

Resident physiotherapists of the football team KAA Gent and Gantoise Hockey, Frank Wezenbeek and Benjamin Decloedt, have launched treatment rooms at 10 Jim locations and there are plans to rollout to 22 in the next three years.

In the West Flanders region, Jims is expanding its collaboration with the physiotherapy practice SPRS (Sports Performance Recovery Success) – resident physiotherapist of the Belgian Cats, basketball club Kortrijk Spurs and football club Zulte Waregem. Jims has been working with SPRS since September 2024, with four treatment rooms in four gyms, now a further branch has been added with a handful of further locations set to follow.

Jelle Duthoit, physiotherapist at SPRS, says: "This past year, we've proven that rehabilitation and fitness are inextricably linked. This is a pure win-win: our patients are able to rehabilitate with the latest equipment, whereas sports enthusiasts at Jims can simply come to us for advice or guidance in case of injury."

Decloedt says: "We see this collaboration as a unique opportunity. We get access to top-notch facilities, bring rehabilitation closer to athletes and are able to expand geographically."

Jims managing director, Pieterjan Nuitten, says Jims is about more than fitness: "With our partners, we are building the largest integrated physio structure in Belgium. Our fitness locations will evolve into true health hubs, where prevention, rehabilitation and exercise go hand in hand.

“We see that the sector has evolved from body building at the very beginning, with a focus on power, to fitness (cardio), then wellness (relaxation) and now healthness – a focus on a healthy lifestyle, linked to a medical context."

With 83 clubs in Belgium and Luxembourg, Jims is inviting ambitious physiotherapy practices to get in touch if they want to explore a collaboration.

Jims is also expanding its collaboration with hospitals, it has been working with two hospitals aiming to help rehab patients after cancer treatment and with heart conditions and obesity and four further hospital partnerships have just been announced. All training schedules are validated by doctors and Jims employees are trained at the hospital.

Noticing increased consumer interest in health, along with increasing rates of obesity, diabetes, food intolerances and allergies, The Colruyt Group is constantly striving to find accessible and smart solutions for social challenges, focusing on prevention. Jims is one part of Colruyt’s healthy lifestyle eco-system, alongside online pharmacy Newpharma, the health platform Yoboo, Colruyt Group Academy and Bio-Planet.