Raising the bar on strength and balance

Falls are not an inevitable part of ageing and muscle weakness and poor balance are the two most common modifiable risk factors for falls.  Although NHS rehabilitation services provide strength and balance programmes, they are often of limited length and there is a need for effective community-based strength and balance programmes. However, community-based programmes are often underfunded and do not join up to work together.  

The Centre for Ageing Better commissioned the University of Manchester’s Healthy Ageing Research Group to bridge the gap between evidence and practice. It looks directly at communities to better understand their local challenges and identify practical examples of doing things differently.  Their new report, “Raising the bar on strength and balance” presents the models of delivery, issues, barriers and innovative solutions that support effective community-based programmes.

There are many great examples of well-delivered strength and balance programmes across the country, including our Strictly No Falling Service in Derbyshire which features in the report. Ageing Better has explored best practices in their new report to help more people live a healthy later life.  

Read the Ageing Better report to find out the five key points to ensuring strength and balance programmes are delivered to the right people, by the right people, at the right time.  https://ageing-better.org.uk/strength-balance

For more information about our falls prevention service, please call 01773 766922 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/derbyandderbyshire/falls