Freedom and Independence
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Freedom and independence are qualities of life that we all cherish. Much like good health, these riches are easily taken for granted until we begin to lose them.
Our aim is to assist and guide you toward maintaining your good wellbeing and, hopefully, preserving your personal freedom as you reach your 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond. This website is NOT about anti-ageing and it is more than just fall prevention, though that is a very important part of what we do. This is about the prevention of frailty in later life and how we can maintain and even improve our physical functionality as we mature. |
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For more details about events, please visit the EVENTS page.
What is frailty?Our working definition:
Frailty is an age-related condition which may result in the loss of strength, speed, energy, activity, muscle mass, resilience to minor health strains and, subsequently, the loss of independence and personal freedom. read more... Can frailty be prevented?There is a lot of interest in the subject of frailty, with many great minds and teams of scientists exploring the complexities of the matter. Consensus on what frailty actually means is only now beginning to be agreed upon within the medical world but it is clear that there are things we can do as individuals which can influence...
read more... |
Why is frailty important?Thanks to modern medicine, good nutrition and improvements in quality of life on the whole, the life expectancy of the average person in the UK is increasing. However, the likelihood of becoming frail increases as with age. This means that more of us will face the challenges of becoming frail in later life.
read more... What do I need to do?There is evidence that particular aspects of frailty can be altered, or influenced by the choices we make around exercise, activity nutrition and connection. For example, specific exercise based interventions, especially those involving strength training and improving balance, can be effective in improving muscle strength and a person's functional abilities...
read more... |
it is clear that there are things
that we can do as individuals
which can influence the
potential of becoming frail
Why is frailty so important now?
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There are demographic shifts taking place in countries classed as ‘mature economies’, of which the UK is one. The total fertility rate in the UK has been low for many years now, which means the percentage of people above 50 years of age is gradually increasing. One study estimates that by 2030 (only 19 years away!) the percentage of over 50 year olds in the UK will be almost 50% and the number of over 65 year olds will be close to 25%.
This population change will inevitably place increased pressures on public services that are already feeling the |
strain. Frailty is linked to an increased likelihood of falling. According to the government, ‘People aged 65 and older have the highest risk of falling; around a third of people aged 65 and over, and around half of people aged 80 and over, fall at least once a year.’ ‘the Public Health Outcomes Framework (PHOF) reported that in 2013 to 2014 there were around 255,000 emergency hospital admissions related to falls among patients aged 65 and over, with around 173,000 (68%) of these patients aged 80 and over.'
www.gov.uk |
choose a more confident future.
Assess your needs... |
There are some very simple tests that will inform you of your functional strengths and weaknesses.
Our area of expertise (for more info about us, click here) is biomechanical functionality - the way the various parts of the body work together in order to perform certain movements and perform certain tasks. When it comes to the subject of frailty prevention, we are interested in assisting with three main areas:
Many writers suggest we are at our strongest when we are 25-30 years old but there is little information as to when we peak regarding balance and flexibility. There is strong evidence to suggest that our activity levels in our mid-life makes a big difference to our propensity to be frail.
Strength : Our mobility is dependent on the healthy functioning our our musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, circulatory system (heart, lungs, blood) nerves, connective tissue (tendons, ligaments and fascia). This remarkable system is very efficient and dynamic, it adjusts based on the requirements demanded of it. If we have to lift heavier items, walk further, or move faster, it builds the whole system up to improve it for those tasks. However, if we don't use it, the body strips away unnecessary tissue so it doesn't have to waste resources maintaining it. How strong are you? How much are you pushing your body to remain strong? For a simple assessment, click here.
Balance: This is so important for good health but is not talked about enough. We are bipedal creatures (walk on two legs) which is great for freeing up our other limbs for carrying, using tools, typing etc. but it is an unstable set-up and maintaining our balance is later life is crucial to maintaining our mobility and independence. How good is your balance? For a simple assessment, click here.
Flexibility: Being functionally fit means being capable of using your body for a given task. For example, being flexible enough to bend forwards and reach into cupboards or reach items on high up on shelves involves a certain level of flexibility which can lost gradually lose without us noticing. For a simple assessment, click here.
Our area of expertise (for more info about us, click here) is biomechanical functionality - the way the various parts of the body work together in order to perform certain movements and perform certain tasks. When it comes to the subject of frailty prevention, we are interested in assisting with three main areas:
- Strength
- Balance
- Flexibility
Many writers suggest we are at our strongest when we are 25-30 years old but there is little information as to when we peak regarding balance and flexibility. There is strong evidence to suggest that our activity levels in our mid-life makes a big difference to our propensity to be frail.
Strength : Our mobility is dependent on the healthy functioning our our musculoskeletal system (bones, muscles, circulatory system (heart, lungs, blood) nerves, connective tissue (tendons, ligaments and fascia). This remarkable system is very efficient and dynamic, it adjusts based on the requirements demanded of it. If we have to lift heavier items, walk further, or move faster, it builds the whole system up to improve it for those tasks. However, if we don't use it, the body strips away unnecessary tissue so it doesn't have to waste resources maintaining it. How strong are you? How much are you pushing your body to remain strong? For a simple assessment, click here.
Balance: This is so important for good health but is not talked about enough. We are bipedal creatures (walk on two legs) which is great for freeing up our other limbs for carrying, using tools, typing etc. but it is an unstable set-up and maintaining our balance is later life is crucial to maintaining our mobility and independence. How good is your balance? For a simple assessment, click here.
Flexibility: Being functionally fit means being capable of using your body for a given task. For example, being flexible enough to bend forwards and reach into cupboards or reach items on high up on shelves involves a certain level of flexibility which can lost gradually lose without us noticing. For a simple assessment, click here.