Aging is inevitable but how we age depends us , our diet , how active we are there are also other factors such as gender and genetics that can play a factor in our health that we cannot control but if we try to look after ourselves to our best ability we have more of a chance to overcome or fight them .
Muscle is lost with aging and the rate is dependent on exercise and nutrition
Muscle loss (Sarcopenia) leads to reduced quality of life , falls , fractures and then the person loses their independence in life.
By keeping active with the right diet and exercise it can reverse muscle loss which in turn increases life span and quality of life of a person .
Resistance exercise is particularly effective exercises with resistance bands and weight bearing exercises can help slow the rate of muscle loss
We lose between 3%-8% of muscle every decade from the age of 30 if we do not do some kind of strength training and can expect to lose 4-6lb of muscle for every decade but we do not often realise this as we gain weight through inactivity.
A Fall is not only distressing and painful for the person who has fallen and can be life changing due to loss of mobility and confidence and some times mortality
It is also expensive to NHS and social care. Hip fractures alone account for 1 : 8 million hospital beds and £1:1 billion costs a year excluding social care that is needed afterwards
People over 65 are at high risk of falling and a third of them will have a fall in a year
This rises to 1 in 2 people over 80 who will fall at least once a year
The total annual costs of fractures to the UK is estimated £4; 4 billion this includes £1;1 billion pounds in social care
Hip fractures alone will cost £2 billion of this sum.
20% of people who fracture their hip go on to long term health care a year after the fracture .
Therefore prevention is better than cure
My classes help to build strength in the legs to be able to get up from a chair independently, prevent the foot from dropping and shuffling , give confidence after a fall and mobility in the joints affected by arthritis or a an injury and improve balance
I also show how to get up from the floor if you do fall and tips on Health and Wellbeing .
The classes give people the tools to be able to feel more confident to live independently and help themselves
Most importantly we laugh a lot in the classes together an many have made new friends some have met up with old friends they had lost touch with but still live the same village promoting not only physical but also mental wellbeing with everyone who comes along. Sometime they just need to see others and get out to talk to someone .
The pictures show everyone working hard and also enjoying themselves together
For information on where I am and classes please contact suelarken@ageukkentrivers.org.uk or call 07519291666
