Balance is important for maintaining postural stability and thus for the avoidance of falls. Balance exercises should include multi-tasks situations which require the body to perform many activities of daily living; such as walking downstairs while having a conversation or stepping over an obstacle while carrying shopping bags. Besides balance, muscle strength/power is also important for activities of…
Dementia is a chronic disease that impacts over 400,000 people nationally. Over 50% of people living in residential care are living with dementia. Researchers around the world have proven, that one of the most effective ways to live a long healthy life is by exercising regularly. Matt Osman, Exercise Physiologist from the Vario Clinic, Edith Cowan University, …
More and more people are choosing to prepare an Advance Care Plan that reflects their health goals, values and beliefs, that could be used to make decisions if due to advanced age, illness or cognitive impairment they are unable to make decisions for themselves. The following information from Advance Care Planning Australia, an organisation that is dedicated to…
The Federal Government has launched a new elder abuse hotline in its fight against elder abuse, ensuring seniors can have access to information and referrals to protect themselves. Elder abuse can include incidents of a physical, psychological, sexual and financial nature. While the Government is also commissioning a national study to work out how widespread elder abuse is,…
Associate Professor Therese O’Sullivan, an accredited practicing dietician and lecturer at Edith Cowan University, recently shared some helpful tips with us, for those living with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as RA, is the second most common arthritis after osteoarthritis. It affects more women than men, and is most likely to start at a younger age than…
In recent years, there has been a greater focus on the importance of physical activity to enable cancer patients to function normally and to enhance their quality of life. There is growing evidence that a physically active lifestyle protects against the development of colon cancer, breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and prostate cancer. In recent years, a number of…
February 4 marked World Cancer Day and February is National Cancer Prevention Month. We are reminded that Cancer is the leading cause of death in Australia with 1 in 2 Australian men and women being diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85. To be an effective caregiver, you must first care for yourself. If you reduce…
Every year on February 4, World Cancer Day empowers communities across the world to show support and raise the profile of cancer in a positive and inspiring way. The campaign theme for World Cancer Day 2019 is ‘I Am and I Will’. Regardless of who you are, you have the power to reduce the impact of cancer for…
By Denis Taaffe, Professor Exercise Gerontologist, Edith Cowan University Normal ageing is characterised by a reduction in muscle mass and strength, which can compromise an older person’s functional performance, such as the ability to climb stairs or rise from a chair, independence, and quality of life. Moreover, the decline in muscle strength contributes to poorer balance, increasing the risk…
Exercise physiology is medical science that uses exercise to treat health conditions. It is proven that exercising and starting to move more can help improve any health condition with benefits including lifting your mood, improving memory, regulating blood sugar, enhancing circulation, helping prevent falls, strengthening your heart health, lungs and protects your joints and bones and can even increase…
