Otago Falls Prevention Program - Fit4Later Life

Gym In Motion is pleased to offer the Otago Falls Prevention Program for our clients who are at risk of falling. Exercise is the most important thing you can do for yourself as you age and is the best investment in your health!. The program is geared at helping clients improve their strength, balance, flexibility and maintain all improvements they achieved with their trainer. Studies show you can improve your strength, balance and flexibility well into your 90’s with a consistent exercise program that is done 3 times per week. Without exercise you will lose over 50-70% of your strength after the age of 70!. With no exercise, your risk of falling is 50% if over age 80 and 33% if over age 65. Falling is the leading cause of injuries and death amongst the elderly. As you age exercise becomes a must and not an option if you want to keep walking well, feeling steady on your feet and preventing deadly falls. The Answer: Start a Strength, Balance, and Flexibility program today!.
The Otago Falls Prevention Program is proven to improve strength and balance and reduce falls by up to 35%-40% in elderly persons. The Program is a set of leg muscle strengthening and balance retraining exercises designed specifically to prevent falls. The program is individually prescribed and delivered at home by a trainer. Created by Professors John Campbell, MD, and Clare Robertson, PhD, the Otago Exercise Program trials involved more than 1,000 adults aged 65 to 97. Each participant performed the strength and balance exercises three times a week for a year in their own home and with the guidance of a trained professional. The study showed an overall decrease in falls by about 35-40% and was equally effective for both men and women participants. Read the findings from York University and The British Geriatrics Society about the Otago Program.

The Otago Falls Program as a 1-2-1 personal training program, delivered to you in the comfort of your own home or on a group basis. This program is tailored according to your level of ability. The program consists of a series of exercises that combine the best of strength, balance and flexibility exercises and is completed both standing and sitting. The program is intended to be completed 3 times per week for 52 weeks and involves both trainer and at home sessions including walking.