What can we do ourselves to stay active and mobile?
There are plenty of things we can do to help us stay steady and confident on our feet. The younger we are when we start to take advantage of these activities the better, but it is never too late either.
Eating well, staying hydrated and keeping fit are especially important for us to reduce our risk of falling at a later age. In particular it is known that exercises which aim to increase our balance and strength are one of the best things we can do to help ourselves.
Exercises which help reduce our risk of falling
Exercises which work on our balance and strength are known to be beneficial to us all, irrespective of our age or whether we have already fallen.
The best activities for this are Tai Chi, Chair Based Exercises (CBE), which are suitable for less mobile older participants, or a new type of exercise called Otago. Otago uses weighted cuffs to develop strength and improve balance.
A database of these sessions has been developed. Groups and sessions on the database have been assessed to see if they offer suitable balance and strength exercises within them.
The sessions are provided in lots of different locations and by many different tutors. Hopefully there is something to suit everyone. Please keep looking at the database as groups and sessions will be added over time.
Find a class or session by using our Local Activity Search. Select Falls Prevention and filter by class type.
If you would like to find out more about any of these sessions then please contact our falls prevention activity advisors who will be able to help:
- High Peak, Derbyshire Dales, Chesterfield, Bolsover and North East Derbyshire call Diane Ball on 01246 515 657 / 07785 590 466 or e-mail diane.ball@dchs.nhs.uk
- Erewash, Derbyshire Dales and South Derbyshire call Jo Briggs on 07837 277252 or e-mail fallsprevention@ageukderbyandderbyshire.org.uk
- Derby City
Note - The Strictly No Falling logo is only used to promote community exercise groups across Derbyshire and Derby City which deliver exercises that have been assessed as being suitable to reduce falls risk. You can be reassured that groups which display the Strictly No Falling logo have been visited by local Falls Prevention Activity Advisors, and assessed to ensure they meet certain minimum standards.
Whilst they have been assessed as delivering sessions which incorporate balance and strength exercises, NHS Derby City and Derbyshire County are not responsible for the individual sessions and do not employ the instructors.
For this reason it is recommended that you satisfy yourself prior to commencing exercising that you are fit and able to exercise, the instructor has current personal liability insurance and is aware of and able to provide any individual support which you may require.
