Getting out of bed often gets harder as you get older because of slow changes in strength, joint flexibility and blood pressure control, which together make that first move of the day feel stiff and wobbly. According to healthdirect's guide to older people and falls,...
The first rule after a fall is simple: don't rush. Stay still, breathe, and check yourself for injury before you try to move, because getting up the wrong way (or too quickly) can make things worse. According to healthdirect's guide to older people and falls, falling...
The exercises that make climbing stairs easier are the ones that strengthen your thighs, hips and calves and sharpen your balance, such as step-ups, heel raises, mini squats and side steps. In fact, the Australian Government's physical activity guidelines for older...
Most people can learn to get up from a chair without using their arms by combining three things: stronger thigh and hip muscles, better technique (feet tucked back and nose over toes), and a sensible chair height to practise from. The Australian Government's physical...
A fall can change everything — a broken wrist or hip, a stint in hospital, and often a loss of the confidence that let you get out and about in the first place. The reassuring part is that falls are not an inevitable part of getting older. The right exercise...
Can exercise lower your blood sugar? If you've recently been told your blood sugar is high — whether that's pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes — it's easy to feel overwhelmed by all the advice coming at you. So let's keep this simple and start with the good news: yes,...
A knee replacement can give you back a life you'd started to give up on — walking without pain, sleeping through the night, getting back to the things you love. But the surgery is only half the story. What you do in the weeks and months afterwards is what turns a new...
If you have osteoarthritis in your knees, you've probably already heard that exercise helps — and you're ready for the practical part: which exercises actually make a difference. The short answer is a blend of strengthening, low-impact movement and mobility work, done...
If you've recently been told you have osteoarthritis, there's a good chance your first instinct is to move the joint less. It's one of the most understandable reactions there is — the joint hurts, so surely resting it is the safe thing to do. For most people with...
If you're thinking about seeing an exercise physiologist, it's a fair question to ask: what will I actually get out of it? Plenty of people have tried a short block of sessions somewhere before, felt a bit better for a few weeks, and then watched the benefits fade. So...