Dawn Skelton was involved in a lengthy new Cochrane review update on Exercise to Improve Balance in older people last year. The new update includes 94 research trials and gives useful information for practitioners out there wanting to concentrate on balance improvements (as opposed to falls reduction) in older people. You can read the full…
Despite strong evidence that organised stroke care improves outcomes (Stroke Trialist Collaboration, 2003), organisational issues and resource limitation meant that many patients still do not receive adequate specialist community stroke rehabilitation. Stroke Networks are tasked with working with local agencies to ensure that specialist care is available for all appropriate patients (National Audit Office, Improving…
In 2008, Sherrington et al published a systematic review of published exercise programmes to prevent falls. In a nutshell, they found that successful intervention had to have 3 things in place: a dose of over 50 hours highly challenging balance training (narrowing base of support, reducing holding support, dynamic as well as static balance training…
A very useful resource from Sweden – Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease – is available to search and download. It gives an overview of all the research evidence behind prevention and management of disease with physical activity and exercise across the age range. A “must-read” for those of you who work…
A new set of resources is available for those of you who work in Nursing Home Settings. The good practice self-assessment is a working resource which will help staff in care homes to assess how well falls prevention and management and the prevention of fractures is being addressed in their service. It aims to provide…
dementiaCOMPASS is a volunteer organization that was created by Edye Hoffman in October 2010. Her goal is to support people who are living with dementia, both those who are diagnosed and those who are their care partners and she volunteers alongside some fabulous people who share this goal. She offers a local programme designed to…
Start Active_Stay Active was launched today (11/07/11) by the four home counties’ Chief Medical Officers. The document updates the existing guidelines for children, young people and adults but for the first time, includes guidance on physical activity in the early years and older adults. For all age groups, this guidance highlights the risks of Sedentary…
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has launched a call to action to physiotherapists – Respond to the first fracture; prevent the second. One of LLT’s Directors, Dr Dawn Skelton, contributed to the document. The document provides really useful up to date costs of fractures and falls in the UK and a case study. Click here…
Today we launched INSPIRE. Later Life Training qualified instructors, leaders and those who work closely with us have been asking for updates on a whole variety of things. We have a mix of updates on each of our courses, highlights from research (with our courses), highlights from practice (model services), upcoming events, thought provoking questions…
The Stroke Improvement website is an amazing resource for those working in community stroke exercise services. This easily navigable site allows you to navigate policy and standards, real life best practice examples of services and reports on effectiveness of services. For those managing or setting up exercise services this is a must visit site. NHS…
