Free "Strength and Balance" sessions help prevent falls

Free "Strength and Balance" sessions help prevent falls

Several of my friends and acquaintances have suffered falls in the last year. Even if they were lucky enough to avoid a fracture, some had nasty sprains which prevented them from carrying out their usual activities. 

According to the NHS figures, 60% of falls affecting the over 65s happen in the home. Obviously, there are several things you can do to make your home safer. Even simple things like clearing clutter from your floors or stairs, making sure your lighting is adequate, removing trailing flexes etc. etc. will all help to avoid slips and trips.

As we age, muscle weakness and poor balance make us more likely to suffer a fall. Like everyone I know, I want to lead an independent life, preferably in my own home. So, when Jackie Nixon (Community Public Health Practitioner) secured funding for "Strength and Balance" sessions, I enrolled straightaway.

The programme is in place all around the city. My nearest class was at Fulwell Library. The course runs for fourteen weeks and the sessions usually last around an hour.

Week one involved being assessed to ensure that the sessions were right for us. The following week, we started the programme. The exercises are simple and enjoyable but I still found muscles I didn't know I had! The trainers from The Foundation of Light (Jade, Mollie and Jack) are very knowledgeable, helpful and supportive. Some of the exercises are carried out sitting down. Others involve standing behind a chair for support. Once we'd had a bit of practice, we were given an excellent booklet which was very easy to follow. There were handy tips suggesting how you could incorporate the exercises into everyday activities - such as strengthening your leg muscles while watching TV.

By the seventh session, one of the ladies in the group arrived without her walking stick! We were all really pleased for her.

I'm more than half way through the course now. I can see a big difference in my strength and balance and I'm determined to make time to incorporate the exercises into my daily routine.

To find out about the sessions, contact jackie.nixon@sunderland.gov.uk