FITNESS & EXCERCISE
Keep On Moving
We take a look at the specialist fitness programme for older people, Move it or Lose it, and the work the company is doing with the NHS to reduce health risks and help people to become happier
Breathlessness is a common problem for older people and often causes those who suffer to sit down and avoid moving, which is the very worst thing they can do.
Sometimes breathlessness is due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which is the name given to a number of lung conditions (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) when the airways have become inflamed, narrowed or damaged which leads to difficulty breathing.
There are currently one million diagnosed cases of COPD in the UK, and it is thought that there are a further two million undiagnosed cases. This is estimated to cost the NHS £1billion per year which has risen by £200million in the last five years. A recent NHS report indicated that 115,000 emergency hospital admissions are attributed to COPD every year making it the second largest cause of emergency admissions in the UK.
Along with proper use of medication, exercise is one of the best ways to help those with breathlessness, but actually getting people to participate is one of the biggest challenges. Typical pulmonary rehabilitation has excellent results but its effectiveness can be compromised by low adherence levels. As with many long-term health conditions, exercise is known to be the best medicine but it only works if people take their ‘daily dose’ so it needs to be enjoyable as well as effective.
One company has found a way to tackle this problem and encourage those who are afraid to exercise to get moving. Move it or Lose it is a specialist in exercise for older people and trains instructors to deliver the FABS Training Programme, created in conjunction with collaborating partners The Centre for Healthy Ageing Research at the University of Birmingham. FABS incorporates flexibility, aerobic, balance and strength exercises into every class, as well as the opportunity to socialise and have fun. The exercises are evidence-based, safe, inclusive and effective.
Move it or Lose it has been commissioned by GPs in Birmingham CrossCity CCG to deliver FABS classes to COPD
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patients in an initiative to promote activity for health and wellbeing. Patients attend a weekly class for twelve weeks in their GP surgery which combines exercises followed by education sessions over a cup of tea. Each week patients were given ‘homework’ to do such as heel raises at the kitchen sink or seeing how many times they can get up and down from their chair in 30 seconds.
Results from the initial pilot study show great improvements physically, psychologically and in terms of behaviour change. The results showed 127% improvement in lower body strength leading to reduced falls risk and 50% self-reported improvement in self-esteem.
Participants kept a diary to record their feelings with comments such as “I’m feeling more confident with day to day living,” “I intend to carry on with all the exercises at home, and “I have really enjoyed the classes, it’s really changed my life, thank you!”
For those working with people with COPD in the care home environment, the focus should be on reducing their sedentary time as sitting still for long periods has the same health risks as smoking! Chair-based exercises are ideal as people can get moving, increase their heart and breathing rate and mobilise their joints without getting out of breath.
Simple actions such as circling the shoulders round and back can open up the chest; heel pumping is great to improve circulation in the legs; marching on the spot with arm swinging gets the heart working and is far more fun when it’s done to lively music.
For more ideas to encourage residents to get moving, Move it or Lose it has a range of easy-to-follow DVDs which have been used by thousands of people in care settings.
www.moveitorloseit.co.uk
Tomorrow’s Care readers can get a discount on products on the site by using the DISCOUNT CODE- caremag10
www.tomorrowscare.co.uk
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