5 of the best

EXERCISE AIDS FOR OLDER PEOPLE

KEEPING fit can be tough as we age. Here, STEPHEN KIRK, a physiotherapist at One Wellness in Harrogate, selects five of the best bits of exercise kit with older people in mind.

IMPROVED BALANCE

Bosu home balance trainer, £123.88, newitts.com

AN INFLATED rubber dome on a flat base, this can be used to improve balance. Walking, jogging or standing on one leg on the dome will strengthen leg muscles that keep us stable. Weightbearing exercises like this help keep bones stronger, too.

FIRM GRIP

Power-web senior hand exerciser, £37.99, healthandcare.co.uk

A RING the size of a large plate with a rubbery, net-like covering, this offers resistance training to strengthen the muscles in the hand and forearm, and maintain dexterity. Hold it with one hand and push the fingers of the other through the netting and pull back. Use until you feel slightly fatigued and build up slowly (there are six resistance levels).

STRONG LEGS

MagneTrainer ER, £147, amazon.co.uk

THIS set of pedals can be used while sitting in a chair, making it suitable for people with mobility issues who want to strengthen their arms and legs. Secure the feet (or hands) on the pedals and rotate. It can improve leg strength, particularly the quadriceps (the large muscles at the front of the thighs) and hamstrings, important for walking and climbing stairs. Raising the heart rate can also improve cardiovascular fitness.

SHOULDER MOBILITY

Home exercise pulley system, £20.99, welcomemobility.co.uk

THIS pulley system, which fits over a household door, improves flexibility by exercising the shoulders. Adjust the pulley rope to the desired length and pull down on one or both handles until you feel a bit of a pull on your arms. Older people often struggle to lift their arms above their shoulders because the rotator cuff muscles — vital for stabilising the shoulder joint — can tear. Using the pulley can help alleviate muscle weakness caused by injury or stroke.

BURN CALORIES

Pleny indoor mini fitness trampoline, £66, amazon.co.uk

THIS small trampoline with an adjustable handrail can be used indoors to burn calories and improve balance. Five to ten minutes of bouncing or running will help as you have to adjust your balance when landing. It will also build up muscles but with less impact on joints than a hard surface.