SENIORS FITNESS NEWSLETTER:
Welcome to our latest Seniors Newsletter June 2024.
Apparently its summer – at the time of writing it is raining…..
Every season brings us opportunities. If you are fighting it out with those pesky weeds in your garden, just remember how healthy weeding is for you! And check number ‘20’ below!
We are holding extra sessions of our Balance workshop (15th June) – to provide focused help to improve your balance, and also our Functional Fitness MOT (8th June) – to assess your overall level of fitness.Click on the Green text for link.
"You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream"
CS Lewis
FITNESS BY NUMBERS….
18 minutes -
Is the amount of increased exercise / movement per person undertaken across the nation between 2022 to 2023. This is according to a survey undertaken by Nuffield Health survey.
However:....
75%
of all adults are still not meeting recommended World Health Organisation guidelines for movement.
47%
of adults between 75 – 84 years old are identified as physically inactive by the Centre for Ageing Better UK. The figure for 65 -74year olds is 31% - a difference of 16% over ten years,- which highlights how easy it is to become less active as we get older.
Less activity leads to be able to do less and increases the risk of diabetes/ poor heart health and increase in back ache / joint problems.
500 ....
The approximate number of people in Northfield over 65 who are admitted to hospital following a fall each year. (Birmingham City Council data). Falls are a significant risks to adults as we get older and become more likely to result in disability or cause death.
66,000...
the number of hip fractures due to falls occurred in UK in 2018 (NHS)
20 minutes...
Harvard Medical School (1/7/19) reports that spending as little as just 20 minutes outdoors results in reduced stress and cortisol levels, as well as lowering high blood pressure and gaining Vitamin D.
Spending longer outside is even better!
30 minutes:
Maximum time you should spend sitting down still. To maintain fitness and health if you are able to get out of a chair, do so even for just a quick stretch. Regular movement of any sort is beneficial. Our bodies adapt to how we move, so move more and we become fitter, sit still and our bodies adapt to the sitting position move less, we become less able.
3%.....
Average loss of muscle per year in adults over 60 years old.
Muscle loss is a key factor in early ageing, loss of mobility and a reduction in day to day function. It can be reversed with proper strength exercises – which reduce the risk of diabetes too! But it means putting your muscles under stress to help them get stronger.
From 3,000.... (or any number higher?)
The number of steps someone should take each day – depending on which study you look at!
The 10,000 steps number was made up. A range of research has highlighted that 3000 step minimum is seen to be beneficial.
The key message on this is ignore the numbers – but concentrate on walking as far as you can!
There is an excellent tool on increasing your walking (regardless of where you are starting from) which is produced by ‘Moving Medicine' .See link HERE
0.9%
The prevalence of heart failure in Northfield constituency area (2017/18). Northfield is reported to have the highest level of heart failure in Birmingham. Average nationally is 0.8%, in Birmingham 0.6%
Number 1 – this is you!
Regardless of any other statistic, number or person. As number 1, what matters is that you can maintain or improve your strength, movement and fitness and by doing so you can improve the quality of life as you grow older. !
Never too old:
Ed Dwight had to wait more than 60 years to fulfill his ambition to go to space.
In 1961, he was chosen by then US President John F Kennedy as the first black astronaut candidate in the country. But Nasa did not select him for a mission and he did not get a chance to go to space... until now.
In May the 90-year-old became the oldest person to go to space.The Blue Origin spacecraft took a six-person crew to the edge of space before parachuting them back to Earth.
BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
…………Age is just a number!
EVENTS & NOTICES:
Our weekly class times and venues are identified HERE
BALANCE WORKSHOP:
We are running several additional workshops to help you improve your balance. Dates scheduled: 15th June 11am
Details are set out HERE
How Fit are YOU? - FUNCTIONAL FITNESS MOT
We are also running additional Fitness testing sessions. Dates scheduled 8th June and 20th July Both Saturdays at 11am Culmington Hall, Culmington Road B31
EXTERNAL EVENTS NOTICES:
* West Heath Community Centre Summer Fete - 8th June 12noon - details HERE
* Carers week event at Hawkesley Community Centre 12th June 11.30 - 16.00 details HERE