Over 30% of people over 65 years of age fall every year. It is the number one cause of injury related hospitalisation in elderly people, with approximately 10% of people getting seriously injured. Whilst there are many reasons for falls, many will be due to age-related muscle loss and poor balance and mobility.
The UK has an ageing population, with people living longer than ever. As such, supporting older adults to stay active and keep healthy is increasingly important. Adult Children want their elderly parents to maintain their independence for as long as possible, for their mental health and quality of life – and to avoid any unnecessary reliance on healthcare. One of the key things an ageing person can proactively do, is to keep up with regular physical activity. This is not always as easy as it sounds if a person is lacking confidence to get outside or it’s just not practical to do so. At Synergy Physio, we have addressed this by offering Strength and Balance sessions with a fully trained clinician who can work on building strength. These are typically 1:1 but can be adapted to 1:2 if a couple wanted to do a session together.
Why is Strength and Balance important for older adults?
One of the most preventable causes of falls as we age is muscle loss. This can be caused by a reduction in activity levels, for example following as a long-hospital stay or illness, or even as a result in eating less as we age. Once our balance is negatively affected, we can become fearful of travelling, reducing our activity and further compounding the problem.
This process isn’t inevitable. Strength training can help to regain the strength needed to be active, as well as improve our ability to catch ourselves when we fall. If we work on balance at the same time we can improve our ability to live our daily lives and to move around without fear.
How Strength and Balance work together to keep us safe
As we age and our strength decreases, it not only has a negative impact on our ability to perform tasks, such as climbing stairs, but our ability to rescue ourselves if we start to lose our balance. Most falls unfold as a series of interconnected events, an example of this, would be stepping on an uneven surface.
The uneven surface challenges our body’s ability to hold itself in position, with the muscles of the hips, legs and ankles, working hard. If they are too weak to hold the position, we lose our balance.
But what if strength is not the primary issue, and our balance is? If we haven’t practiced our balance, we are likely to have less control and could begin to fall, leading to an attempt to catch ourselves. If the other leg is not strong enough to rescue us, we will end up on the floor. At each stage we could have had a better chance of saving ourselves, and this is exactly why strength and balance training can be so important.
What Strength and Balance Training involves
At Synergy Physio we are offering Strength and Balance sessions, totally tailored to the individual. Some of the benefits are listed below:
- Reduced risk of falls and subsequent injury – including fractures
- Improved ability to perform daily tasks and activities
- Reduce joint pain and improve posture
- Regaining confidence in our ability to move
- Increased energy levels
These benefits can be gained through working with one of our clinicians towards the goals that are important to you and building up your physical capability and confidence. Whether you feel that you are very unsteady already or are looking to prevent strength and balance loss in the future, our clinicians are clinically trained to work with people of all abilities, including those who may have some medical conditions that impact their mobility.
Contact us to book a session or speak with a member of the Strength and Balance team to find out how this service can help you.
