Strength and Balance Exercise offers the opportunity to safely practise exercises in standing for those who are at risk of falls, AND for those who want to minimise any future risk of falls. It also helps improve strength, co-ordination, flexibility, fitness levels and mental wellbeing!
We know that falls related injuries are common in older adults, that they can have extremely negative effects on functional independence and quality of life, and that they are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and health related costs. The World Falls guidance (2022) is clear in their message that effectively addressing falls risks has benefits far beyond falls prevention, such as improved physical and mental health, as well as improved functioning and quality of life.
Impaired balance is a risk that is frequently identified in falls risk assessments. However, there is not always clear guidance on how providers can help a person to improve their balance, in order to reduce this risk.
What we do know is that: In order to improve balance, we have to challenge balance! This means practising activities that challenge our balance, in a safe way, rather than avoiding anything that makes us feel unsteady.
The World Guidelines for Falls Prevention and Management for Older Adults (2022) recommend:
- Individualised supervised exercise as a falls prevention strategy for adults living in long-term care settings.
- Including the promotion of physical activity (when feasible and safe) as part of a multidomain falls prevention intervention in care homes.
- That exercise programmes for falls prevention for community-dwelling older adults, that include balance and functional exercises (e.g. sit-to-stand, stepping), should be offered three times or more weekly, to enhance functional capacity and to prevent falls.
- That community-dwelling adults with cognitive impairment (mild cognitive impairment and mild to moderate dementia) participate in exercise to prevent falls, if willing and able to do so.
- That exercise programmes that need to be of sufficient intensity and duration should be delivered in a way that ensures safety and considers functional abilities.
The WHO and the UK Physical Activity guidelines (2019) recommend activities which challenge balance and include resistance (strength) training twice per week, to prevent falls.
Strength and Balance Exercise can be delivered on a 1:1 basis, as long as an individualised risk assessment is put in place, and as long as the Strength and Balance exercises on the HCPA website are followed.
Strength and Balance Exercise can only be delivered to a group by a person who has trained as a Strength and Balance Exercise Instructor, either with HCPA, or with another reputable company. Classes include a variety of evidence-based exercises that can be adapted to suit an individual’s needs, abilities and goals.
HCPA’s Strength and Balance Exercise in Care – Course entry criteria:
- You need to be a Level 2 Chair-based Exercise instructor.
- You need to have delivered 2 classes a week for approximately 6 months (approximately 50 hours)