Think you’re too busy for strength training at work? Try this quick and easy guide
Sep 6, 2024
Source The Conversation Summary Do you sit at a desk all day and then find you’re exhausted, your back aches and exercise is the last thing on your mind? I hear you. But desk jobs can be killers, so taking regular strength breaks during the working day is essential to your health and wellbeing. People Ashley Gluchowski URL https://theconversation.com/think-youre-too-busy-for-strength-training-at-work-try-this-quick-and-easy-guide-235824
News (5)
How can Salford residents extend their lifespan?
Oct 30, 2024
Source Mancunian Matters Summary According to the Blue Zone Theory, areas with higher proportions of centenarians all have several things in common – so MM investigated what Salfordians could do to live both longer and richer lives.
Salford, although not a blue zone, had an increase of 8.4% in people aged 65 years between 2011 and 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics.
Becky Yeomans met with residents of Salford to find out what they think about the Blue Zone Theory, if there’s any truth to it and how they are living life to the full.
The theory was coined by Dan Buettner, an American explorer and researcher, and blue zones – meaning areas with large populations living to 100 – include Ikaria (Greece), Sardinia (Italy), Okinawa (Japan), Nicoya (Costa Rica) and Loma Linda (California).
Buettner explained in the Netflix series “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones” that people in these areas moved naturally, ate wisely, and had strong connections and a good outlook.People Ashley Gluchowski URL https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/news/30102024-watch-how-can-salford-residents-extend-their-lifespan/
How can gyms and leisure centres better support older people to do more resistance training?
Dec 16, 2024
Source UKActive Summary The United Kingdom’s Chief Medical Officers’ physical activity guidelines recommend that all adults build strength on at least 2 days a week to keep muscles, bone, and joints strong.
However, asking people to participate in resistance training 2 days a week has been shown to be a vague and confusing message. People are unsure what counts as resistance training and many middle-aged and older adults believe that resistance training is only for bodybuilders, athletes, or social media influencers. Further, many programmes targeting older adults and classified as resistance training programmes, often focus solely on balance exercises or are mainly performed seated, and/or omit the principle of progressive overload.
In addition, our national guidelines and self-report surveys of resistance training participation include activities that are not likely to be building strength for the average adult (i.e. walking or carrying groceries), and so this message only adds to the public’s confusion.
Gyms and leisure centres are ideally placed to help clarify this message and support people to take part in more effective resistance training. We do have robust evidence that structured exercise programmes focussing on strength are effective and cost-effective for older adults with mobility limitations so gyms and leisure centres across the physical activity sector can play a key role in supporting independence and healthy ageing.
Ensuring the gym space is a welcoming place for both young and older people is important. For example, older adults may enjoy their own space, away from younger adults and blocking time or space in a gym, for older adults to come together, to enjoy the space and socialise with similar aged, similar ability, and like-minded people, has been shown to increase adherence to this training structure. Older adults have also been shown to prefer expert, enthusiastic trainers, that can sometimes help to offset any potential feelings of fear and encourage safety and motivation when starting resistance training (or any physical activity) for the first time.
It is also important to assess how classes are marketed to older age groups to encourage them to take part. This can be achieved by carefully by thinking about the titles, descriptions, imagery, and format of exercise classes. Similarly, recognising the diversity in strength levels of older adults and ensuring they aren’t purely treated as frail and unable, will help to challenge these groups so they can see clear results – and ultimately improve their strength. Let’s not forget that compassionate ageism can do more harm than good.
Gyms and leisure centres can use evidence-led messaging for their target audience and evidence-led programming to help their older members improve their strength and health. To complement this, having instructors who are qualified in resistance training prescription and supervision and understand the importance of behaviour change techniques such as goal setting, monitoring progress, modelling, supporting self-efficacy, supporting relatedness, managing setbacks, and problem solving will be beneficial. It is also helpful that those instructors have the skills to enhance interaction and social confidence in these groups too.
Some simple strategies to help increase the suitability for gyms and leisure facilities for welcoming and supporting older adults, could include:
A designated time for them in the facility – this doesn’t have to be sole use but maybe a time when there will be an instructor available to encourage interaction and providing a welcoming environment, especially for people new to the gym;
Asking your members if you can promote their success stories, through a poster case study on the wall, photos of older adults of all abilities doing resistance training, or a web article;
Use a ‘bring a friend’ incentive;
Keep any specific classes small so members feel safe and supported.
Finally, supporting older participants to get results is a priority! No one, at any age, wants to keep investing their time, money, and energy, with no noticeable return on their investment and by getting stronger, they will reap the positive benefits that it has to bring.People Ashley Gluchowski URL https://www.ukactive.com/blog/how-can-gyms-and-leisure-centres-better-support-older-people-to-do-more-resistance-training/
Ticking timebomb
Aug 1, 2023
Source 1919 mAGAZINE Summary I was interviewed by a journalist alongside a few other experts in the subject of FASD. My contribution to the interviews/magazine publication bordered around my research. People David Junior Gilbert URL https://1919magazine.co.uk/august2023/?i=13
PhD student’s world-leading research supported with short-term funding
Feb 16, 2023
Summary This is an internal article about pump priming fund I received to promote my research People David Junior Gilbert Research Centres/Groups Centre for Applied Health Research URL https://www.salford.ac.uk/news/phd-students-world-leading-research-supported-with-short-term-funding