World Physiotherapy Day has just taken place (September 8th), with this year’s theme set as healthy ageing, with a focus on preventing falls and frailty… which is something that everyone can benefit from, regardless of how old they are.
Preventing frailty
Research shows that the average age of frailty onset is 69, where frailty is defined as being a state of health where you lose your inbuilt reserves and become more vulnerable to infections, changes in medication or different environments, putting you more at risk of disabilities, falls, hospitalisation and long-term care.
Focusing on healthy ageing as early on as you can will help ensure that you can enjoy a long and happy life, free from injury and chronic health conditions.
Lifestyle changes like avoiding drinking too much alcohol and not smoking can prove particularly beneficial, as can making sure that you get regular exercise to improve muscle strength, balance and bone density.
A combination of resistance training, aerobic training and balance/flexibility work can help ensure you stay strong as you age, thereby reducing the risk of falls.
Diet is also a key prevention tactic, with the focus placed on vegetables, fruit, olive oil and fish, as well as increased protein intake.
Remember that frailty isn’t an inevitable part of the ageing process and there’s a growing body of research showing that diet and physical activity can both delay onset and reduce severity.
Preventing falls
While falls do become more of a concern as we get older, again they’re not an inevitable part of the ageing process. You can put all sorts of measures in place to reduce the risks.
For example, stay as active as you can to maintain strength, balance and coordination, eat well to give you the energy you need, stay hydrated (drinking between six and eight glasses of fluid a day) and protect your vision to help you with your balance.
Being honest with yourself about your health is also important. If you’re concerned about your physicality and potential changes on the horizon, speak to your GP – and/or come and see us here at Clear Physio to find out how we can help.
