Inactivity

Risk

• Inactivity is a huge risk for individuals.

Reason

• When a person is inactive, their muscles become weaker, their joints become stiffer, and their balance worsens. This dramatically increases the likelihood of them falling.

Interventions

• Encourage movement wherever possible, within each person’s individual fitness or capability levels. This may mean assisting with hourly sit to stand practice, encouraging a person to mobilise to the toilet, or encouraging participation in an exercise class, such as Chair-based Exercise,
• Use a questioning approach determine which activities a person enjoys.
• Build activity or exercise up gradually, using step-by-step goals.
• Encourage the use of technology, such as wrist watches that count number of steps to monitor levels of activity.
• Use an enabling approach to encourage increasing independence during Activities of daily living (ADLs).
• Ensure risk assessments and risk management plans are in place as appropriate. Remember if any exercise is too difficult for the person, they may become demotivated.
• Refer to a qualified Physiotherapist for advice on what specific exercises would be appropriate for the person, particularly if the person has an underlying condition, such as Osteoarthritis, Parkinson’s Disease or, for example, if they have had a Stroke. Also refer to a qualified Physiotherapist if any exercise causes the person to have pain that is anything other than the discomfort expected after performing a new exercise. Additionally refer to a Physiotherapist if you have any concerns about the person’s ability to participate in a particular exercise or activity.
• Refer to the person’s GP if the person if you have any concerns regarding the person’s health when they are completing an exercise.
• Ensure your organisation has staff who are trained in Chair-based Exercise, and Strength and Balance Exercise, so that you can offer in-house classes. See link to our instructor courses here https://www.hcpa.info/upcoming-training/

Considerations

• It is important that the individual’s capacity to make decisions around this specific area is considered and documented.
• Individuals who have capacity regarding these decisions can make choices about what exercise of activity they wish to do. You need to document their ability to make this decision, as well as what they chose every time is it relevant.
• You may need to inform them of the benefits and risks, if they are not aware, or you may need to remind them if they have difficulty remembering things.
• If the individual is assessed as not having capacity regarding these decisions, this needs to be documented appropriately and interventions need to be implemented and documented as part of a Best Interests Decision, using appropriate paperwork. Remember, the benefits of movement and physical activity usually outweigh the risks of the activity, even for older people or people with an impairment. However, it is important to seek advice from a qualified Health Professional, such as a Physiotherapist, if you have any concerns.

Click here to see the Sit Less Move Brochure.