OLDER PEOPLE SHOULD BE OFFERED TA I CHI CLASSES

THERE are many perceived threats in this world — but few are as real in everyday life as the threat that falls pose to elderly people.

A third of over-65s and 50 per cent of those aged 80-plus have at least one fall a year. As a result there are more than 255,000 emergency admissions among over-65s each year, in England alone.

Falls are a major cause of longterm health problems; plus the knock-on effect on confidence and independence. Many patients had little need to see me until something as innocuous as tripping at home, after which mobility was reduced, and they had to rely on others or move into a home.

It is yet another reason to exercise — the stronger your muscles, the more likely they are to react when you start to fall and keep you upright. Now comes news of a more targeted approach. A recent study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, confirms that Tai Chi is more effective than other interventions such as balance and strengthening classes in preventing falls in the elderly.

In a study of 670 people with a history of falls, twice-weekly Tai Chi sessions over six months lowered the fall rate by half.

This ancient Chinese martial art involves breathing, movement, awareness, exercise and meditation. Why is it so effective? I think the slow, repeated purposeful movements conducted with a calm and clear state of mind make you more aware of how you move, while improving flexibility, so falls become less likely.

And it is the perfect antidote to the stress and pressure of the digital age. I’ve just done my second class. It’s enlightening, invigorating — and harder than it looks.