Strength and Balance
How can we help your strength and balance? Read on for more info.
What is the Strength and Balance course?
The strength and balance course focuses on improving strength, stability and balance to aid with everyday life. It lasts for 24 weeks (you can miss a few weeks, that’s fine!) and at the end you should be feeling a lot more confident in getting through each day on your feet.
The course is at:
Exe Valley Leisure Centre (Tiverton), Wednesdays, 10:45-11:45
Culm Valley Sports Centre (Cullompton), Thursday, 12:15-13:15
Who is the Strength and Balance course suitable for?
It is suitable for people who struggle with balance, stability and walking, although you do need to complete a timed ‘get up and go’ test before commencing. The result of this test needs to be below 14 seconds to be considered viable for the course, but your friendly instructor will be able to guide you through this.
What are the benefits for participants?
This course will increase muscle strength and joint flexibility which in turn will provide more stability when walking around. The course is progressive so the instructor will increase the activity level the stronger you get. There will be an assessment at the start at the end to check progress.
What do I do? How do I start?
You may have a referral from the NHS (hospital or physio) which will be your next point on your journey, however you can self-refer if you feel you need the support. Simply come into one of the centres and the front of house team should be able to help you. You will need to book your initial assessment (free of charge) to check you’re eligible. After this you can attend the weekly session.
What happens at the assessment?
With the help of your instructor, you will complete some basic paperwork along with a timed get up and go test. This test times you on getting out of a chair and walking a set distance, you need to be able to achieve a certain time to be accepted onto the course. Your instructor will guide you throughout, you’ll be in safe hands.
What does the scheme cost?
The first 6 weeks is free and will give you a good start to the rest of the course. After this, each session is £3.50 on a pay as you go basis.
Some important tips
A national fitness survey found that the majority of the population did not take enough exercise necessary to achieve benefits to their health. Mid Devon District Council and local health professionals want to improve this situation.
This scheme is being funded with the support of NHS and Mid Devon Leisure and aims to encourage people to become more active.
Exercise should be fun – we hope that you enjoy your time on this course and that regular exercise becomes a part of your lifestyle.
- Always warm up properly before exercising
- Wear loose-fitting clothing and flat shoes
- Start gently and build up gradually
- After a heavy meal wait at least 2 hours before exercising
- Never exercise when you have a cold or feel unwell
- Ensure you cool down and stretch after exercise
- If it starts to hurt – STOP!
- The NHS physical activity guidelines for adults states that to stay healthy adults should aim to achieve at least 150 moderate/or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity a week (or a combination of the two).
One minute of vigorous activity = 2 minutes of moderate activity.
Adults should also complete strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms). This should be your target – it may take a few weeks to get there but when you do you will feel so much better physically and mentally.
Activities can include gardening, walking, housework, DIY and so on. They do not need to be sport-related.
