Balance testing at Chorlton Good Neighbours
At the Good Neighbours Coffee Morning on 7th Dec 2017. A BBC team led by Dr Rangan Chatterjee came to interview and film some members for the programme series “Holding Back the Years” which was aired on Friday 23rd of March on BBC1. Here is the clip from the programme
Members were asked to balance on one leg whilst keeping their eyes closed. How long they could do this before having to give up and put the other leg down was timed. This was then compared to averages for this test by age:
70 years = 4 secs
60 years = 7 secs
50 years = 9 secs
40 years = 16 secs
Balance is important because poor balance leads to an increased likelihood of falls, which tend to be more serious the older you get.
As you age your bones become less dense (osteoporosis) and your muscles weaker (sarcopenia). A third of over 65’s will fall once a year (3.4m people). Nearly a quarter of all admissions to A&E are falls related for the over 65’s
Advice to try and improve balance and reduce the risk of falls was to exercise regularly, including some balance training and muscle strengthening
Judith talks to Dr Chatterjee about her
experience of a serious fall
Helen with the clapper board
Ray meets Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Waiting for the balance test
Bernard, Enid and Judith talking to Dr Chatterjee
Chorlton Good Neighbours 