Oldies leading the way with exercise regime sworn to prevent falls

The RSA Steady As You Go class starting the day fresh. Photo/ Stuart Munro

Over the space of a year David Dale had six falls - nearly every one resulted in him being rushed to hospital in an ambulance with injury.

But for the last year his fall rate has crumbled to zero and he credits that to Whanganui's weekly exercise classes, Steady As You Go.

The 90-year-old said in his old age he found himself getting side-tracked and struggling to watch where he was going.

"These classes, that I attend every week without fail, have made me more conscious and aware. It sounds silly but it's made me think about putting my heel down before my toe," Mr Dale said.

The exercise programme started in Whanganui in September 2015 and has since turned into all the rage among the elderly population.

There are now 19 one-hour classes running across the region, each one with an average of 10 to 15 participants who turn up every week.

"One hundred years plus - not a problem in this class," Whanganui's Steady As You Go co-ordinator Janet Lewis said.

Ms Lewis put her hand up to kick start the programme in Whanganui after hearing about the benefits it had for fall prevention.

Professor Campbell and Dr Clare Robertson from the University of Otago designed the programme with exercises designed to improve balance, leg strength, general fitness and well-being.

Ms Lewis said she started with one class then taught the routine to a peer leader who would take over so she could get cracking on the next class.

She now managers 14 classes across Whanganui and one class in each; Marton, Hunterville, Raetihi, Ohakune and Bulls.

Eighty-two-year-old Teresa Martin has joined the RSA class every week for the last two years and swears by it.

Teresa Martin subbing her younger years trim-line classes for Steady As You Go. Photo/ Stuart Munro

"It's a good way to keep moving. In my younger days I used to take trim classes so I thought I'd give this a whirl.

"Once you turn the corner into your 80s, your body starts to pack in so it's a good way to keep strengthening and it's made me much more confident getting around," Ms Martin said.

And the rewards don't end there.

Ms Lewis said each group has a fundraising box and donates to regular charities around Whanganui.

"The focus tends to be on giving back to younger people - the RSA group recently donated $300 to Whanaganui's Riding for Disabled and each year they give winter PJs to the children's hospital ward."

Classes cost $3 per session and run Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Whanganui at various locations and every Tuesday across the regions.

For more information or to enrol contact Janet Lewis at Age Concern Wanganui on (06) 3451799.