Therapy Professionals

  • Home
    • History >
      • Cantabrainers Choir
      • Tribute to Clare O'Hagan
    • Client Information
    • Rights and Responsibilites
    • Careers
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Assessment, Treatment & Consultation
    • Workplace/home safety
    • For organisations
    • Nail Trimming
  • Therapies
    • Physiotherapy
    • Speech-Language Therapy >
      • Communication
      • Swallowing
    • Music Therapy
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Dietetics
  • Gift Vouchers
  • Contact
  • Information
    • Information and Handy Hints
    • Blog
    • Links
    • Facebook
    • Events
    • Newsletters
  • Home
    • History >
      • Cantabrainers Choir
      • Tribute to Clare O'Hagan
    • Client Information
    • Rights and Responsibilites
    • Careers
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Assessment, Treatment & Consultation
    • Workplace/home safety
    • For organisations
    • Nail Trimming
  • Therapies
    • Physiotherapy
    • Speech-Language Therapy >
      • Communication
      • Swallowing
    • Music Therapy
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Dietetics
  • Gift Vouchers
  • Contact
  • Information
    • Information and Handy Hints
    • Blog
    • Links
    • Facebook
    • Events
    • Newsletters

Information and Handy Hints

February 14th, 2020

14/2/2020

 
Picture
Fitness as we age
 
Keeping fit when older is important and takes more effort the older we get.  Fifty per cent of those over 75 are sedentary (sit most of the time) and 25% of those over 85 aren’t active at all.  Habitual activity makes up a large part of all activity.  Housework makes up more than half of an older woman’s activity.
 
As we get older, fitness is more Important than weight, so relax about your shape and concentrate on fitness.
 
So how fit are you? 
 
What walking distances can you comfortably do?

  • walk across the road
  • walk around the house
  • walk in your garden
  • walk in the street – one block
  • walk in the street – two blocks
  • walk more than four blocks

Being unable to walk round the block is one indicator you have an increased risk of falling.
 
Test your fitness with the “Get up and go test”– using a dining chair.  
Record how long it takes you to stand; walk three metres (10 feet); turn; walk back; sit down again.
 
After a month of exercising, test yourself again. A change more than four seconds can indicate a change in the level of mobility eg six seconds slower indicates slower/less confident mobility or six seconds faster indicates stronger/more confident mobility.
 
Below are some moderate intensity realistic exercise ideas for you to improve your fitness: 

  • a brisk walk
  • an exercise class eg our Arthritis exercise class!
  • treading water in a pool with moderate effort
  • an active game with grandchildren
  • sweeping, vacuuming, mopping floors
  • washing the car – with gusto!
  • gardening - mowing, raking and digging
  • washing the dog!!
  • parking further away from the shops and appointments and walk
  • using a walk as a social occasion.
  • walking to visit friends rather than driving.
  • biking – it’s often quicker than a car!  
  • putting your phone and remotes a little distance away from your chair so you have to get up 


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Shonagh O'Hagan
    and Therapists at Therapy Professionals

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020

    All

    RSS Feed

Quick Links
Physiotherapy
Speech-Language Therapy
Music Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Dietetics
Phone: (03) 377 5280
Email:   [email protected]
Hours:  8:30am-4pm, Monday-Friday
Office: 12 Coronation St, Christchurch 
Postal address: PO Box 7807,
​                             Christchurch 8240
Disclaimer
Therapy Professionals makes every effort to ensure that the information provided on its web pages is accurate and up-to-date. Website content is subject to regular review and no warranty can be provided regarding the accuracy of it. © Therapy Professionals Ltd 2015. All rights reserved.