Carrying the shopping, gardening, or vacuuming, can help older people to lead healthier lives for longer, according to leading physiotherapists.
They warn that millions of older people risk falls because they are failing to maintain their strength.
Nearly a quarter of over-65s don’t do any strength exercises, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) says.
And it warns that the rise of internet shopping means fewer people carry home their groceries.
Physiotherapists say not enough people realise the need to maintain strength as we age.
NHS guidelines suggest people do two strengthening sessions a week, such as exercising with weights, or lifting and carrying heavy loads such as groceries.
Word Understanding
Physiotherapist – a person qualified to treat disease, injury, or deformity by physical methods such as massage, heat treatment, and exercise
II – Have Your Say
1. How often do you go shopping? Do you have any chance of carrying heavy loads in your daily schedule?
2. In your observation, what activities do Japanese elderlies do to keep their strength?
3. Physiotherapists say maintaining your strength into old age can help avoid falls and other forms of ill health. Here are exercises to strengthen muscles:
a. Lift weights
b. Work with resistance bands
c. do exercises that uses your own body weight, such as push-ups and sit-ups
d. heavy gardening, such as digging and shovelling
e. Carrying shopping
f. yoga
640 Carrying the shopping can improve strength in over-65s, say experts
