Balance is an aspect of fitness that is often overlooked, even by many active and motivated adults. The New Zealand Ministry of Health, however, recommends that older adults undertake balance exercises three times each week.

According to Sport Canterbury Strength and Balance Lead Rebecca Logan, "Improving balance helps us keep independent and living stronger for longer."

Falling, Logan adds, is not part of the aging process and can be avoided. One of the best ways to help prevent falls is to add exercises into your physical activity regime that include balance as well as core and leg strengthening routines. Including these types of activities will help improve your reaction, so if you do become off balance, your increased ability to react swiftly and correct yourself will reduce the chance of a fall occurring.

Having increased muscle mass will also help support your bones and joints so that if a fall does occur, you are more likely to walk away without a significant injury. 

Sport Canterbury's Live Stronger for Longer project is part of a nationwide initiative supporting older adults to live independently and injury-free, in their own homes, by reducing their risk of falling. 

This is a collective, whole system approach, to falls prevention, encompassing in home support, pharmacy, and community strength and balance classes. 

Kate Conner is a regular attendee at Evolve, an approved strength and balance class in Ashburton. "The EVOLVE class has definitely improved my strength and balance. The way Matt explains each exercise and the purpose of the exercise, it feels like it's our own personal training session. If I didn't attend the classes, I would certainly feel very stiff in a short period of time."

One of the goals of the Live Stronger for Longer project is to ensure that every person in New Zealand, aged 65 years and over, can attend a strength and balance class within their community. There are currently 15 approved strength and balance classes running weekly within the Mid-Canterbury region. Each of these classes has met nine clinical criteria, established by a technical advisory group, to ensure they are effective in reducing falls risk.

To find out more: Strength and Balance

Article added: Monday 16 March 2020, originally published by The Ashburton Guardian