Stability classes help to reduce the risk of falls “I would say that since beginning the class, my balance has improved, my confidence has improved and I haven’t had a fall in twelve months. I’m also managing the duties of everyday life.” The Wrexham Strength and Balance Classes are held every week and provide training…
Aberystwyth University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in 2012 published an evaluation of the “Functional and Psychological Changes During a Community Based 32 Week Postural Stability Training Programme: Recommendations for Future Practice” report. The Main Fi ndings of the report were: The data strongly support the programme’s impact on patients’ functional ability, with clear improvements…
Last week the Royal College of Physicians published a new audit on exercise provision in falls services across the UK. Some of the findings were, unfortunately, not unexpected! This survey was commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) and carried out by the Royal College of Physicians’ Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit (CEEU). It…
Dawn Skelton was involved in a lengthy new Cochrane review update on Exercise to Improve Balance in older people last year. The new update includes 94 research trials and gives useful information for practitioners out there wanting to concentrate on balance improvements (as opposed to falls reduction) in older people. You can read the full…
In 2008, Sherrington et al published a systematic review of published exercise programmes to prevent falls. In a nutshell, they found that successful intervention had to have 3 things in place: a dose of over 50 hours highly challenging balance training (narrowing base of support, reducing holding support, dynamic as well as static balance training…
A new set of resources is available for those of you who work in Nursing Home Settings. The good practice self-assessment is a working resource which will help staff in care homes to assess how well falls prevention and management and the prevention of fractures is being addressed in their service. It aims to provide…
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has launched a call to action to physiotherapists – Respond to the first fracture; prevent the second. One of LLT’s Directors, Dr Dawn Skelton, contributed to the document. The document provides really useful up to date costs of fractures and falls in the UK and a case study. Click here…
In 2009, the Department of Health published its prevention package. The suite of downloadable prevention package resources below is designed to support PCTs, SHAs and Local Authorities in prioritising and effectively commissioning services that support the health, well-being and independence of older people. Each resource may be read as a stand-alone document or as part…
In 2008, Sherrington et al published a systematic review of over 100 exercise programmes to prevent falls. In a nutshell, they found that successful intervention had to have 3 things in place: a dose of over 50 hours highly challenging balance training (narrowing base of support, reducing holding support, dynamic as well as static balance…
Physical Activity in Later Life: Further Analysis of the Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey and the Health Education Authority Survey of Activity and Health. Skelton DA, Young A, Walker A, Hoinville E. Health Education Authority, The Stationary Office, London. 1999. Click here to download.
