As Falls Prevention week continues, CityCare’s Deputy Director of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Quality Sue Barnitt visits one of our Postural Stability classes
Suffering a fall can have a huge impact on a patient’s physical and psychological wellbeing, resulting in distress and pain, loss of confidence and loss of independence.
Fall-related injuries are becoming increasingly common, putting pressure on urgent and emergency care and costing the NHS well over £400m a year.
Reducing harm from falls is also one of our four quality and safety priorities for 2024-2025.
Our postural stability classes are run by our Community Rehabilitation and Falls Service at five sites across the city, helping people who have had a fall, or are at risk of falling, to build strength and balance.
Joining a session at Clifton Cornerstone, I was able to meet patients, learn about their backgrounds, and even take part in the class myself!
The exercises are research and evidence based, and align to the key principles for the prevention of falls and getting patients moving again.
They include:
- Dynamic balance and endurance (moving in all directions)
- Dynamic endurance (aerobic exercise)
- Targeted strengthening for muscle and bone strength, and targeted stretches for flexibility.
The atmosphere was really positive, with the session also being a great social occasion for all who attend. Patients often go for coffee together, or to the shops after meeting in the class. It gets them out the house and moving, which can be particularly difficult after suffering a fall.
The classes can improve:
- Joint flexibility and movement
- Muscle strength, stamina and flexibility
- Posture and balance
- Local bone density to prevent fracture.
They also promote better health and can improve appetite, sleep and create a sense of wellbeing.
One patient, Carol, who had completed the 20-week course, said she had enjoyed the classes so much she was looking for other classes to take. It has made her “want to do more” and challenge herself, which is excellent to see.
Anngela Makin, who leads the class, says the greatest job satisfaction is seeing patients improve over the weeks -now able to walk to the shops, go out with friends or they are feeling confident enough to travel on public transport. Something they would not have felt able to do without the classes.
Hearing patients’ experiences, and how the classes help them in so many ways, was truly heartwarming. Our Community Rehabilitation and Falls team is doing a tremendous job, helping to prevent falls, and support those at risk of falling.
The class even encouraged me to open my yoga app and consider my own postural health going forward.
I’m so proud of the team for delivering these important classes and I’d like to thank them for welcoming me in and showing me their work. It was so good to see what a difference they are making to the lives of people in our communities.
Date published: 26 September 2024
