SENIORS FITNESS NEWSLETTER:
Welcome to our latest Seniors Newsletter: February 2026.
* VIDEO: FIGHT FRAILTY - Improve strength and resilience
* Blog: Can you have too much of a good thing ?(Exercise that is!)
* CLASS PROGRAMME
* DATA: PREVALENCE OF FALLS IN NORTHFIELD
* PODCAST: YOU ARE NOT OVER THE HILL - YOU ARE IN THE VALLEY!:
* OTHER INFORMATION: Winter guide, IT training
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*VIDEO: FIGHT FRAILTY - Improve strength
Our latest video highlights a number of key exercises - which can be undertaken at any level to improve strength and resilience.
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* F.A.Qs.: Can you have too much of a good thing ?(Exercise that is!)
The answer is YES if you are exercising correctly.
Read more in our blog HERE
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* FITNESS CLASS UPDATE:
Our latest class timetable. CLICK HERE
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PREVALENCE OF FALLS IN NORTHFIELD Latest data
There are around 470 falls each year in the area of Northfield which lead to a hospital admission. We have published the data here: CLICK HERE
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YOU ARE NOT OVER THE HILL - YOU ARE IN THE VALLEY:
Latest podcast from Nutritious Movement - Recommended!
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* OTHER INFORMATION: Winter guides / Internet
WINTER GUIDE:
Age Space has produced a free downloadable winter guide CLICK HERE
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DIGITAL WORKSHOPS:
Two Digital workshops are being delivered by the University of Birmingham to improve how to access internet services,supported bythe Northfield Neighbourhood Network Scheme:
- NHS Digital Workshop — Weds 18th Feb (1:00 – 2:30 pm)
This session aims to help participants become confident with using online NHS services.
- Local Council Services Online Workshop — Weds 25th Feb (1:00 – 2:30 pm)
This session aims to help participants become confident with using council websites and other public bodies.
The workshops will be held at Oddingley Hall, 18 Oddingley Rd, West Heath, Birmingham B31 3BS
Places can be booked through sending an email to harry@northfieldcommunity.org. Or ring 0121 411 2157
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Items from previous newsletters:
"You are never too old to set another goal or dream another dream"
CS Lewis
FITNESS BY NUMBERS….
18 minutes -
Is the amount of increased exercise / movement per person undertaken across the nation between 2022 to 2023. This is according to a survey undertaken by Nuffield Health survey.
However:....
75%
of all adults are still not meeting recommended World Health Organisation guidelines for movement.
47%
of adults between 75 – 84 years old are identified as physically inactive by the Centre for Ageing Better UK. The figure for 65 -74year olds is 31% - a difference of 16% over ten years,- which highlights how easy it is to become less active as we get older.
Less activity leads to be able to do less and increases the risk of diabetes/ poor heart health and increase in back ache / joint problems.
500 ....
The approximate number of people in Northfield over 65 who are admitted to hospital following a fall each year. (Birmingham City Council data). Falls are a significant risks to adults as we get older and become more likely to result in disability or cause death.
66,000...
the number of hip fractures due to falls occurred in UK in 2018 (NHS)
20 minutes...
Harvard Medical School (1/7/19) reports that spending as little as just 20 minutes outdoors results in reduced stress and cortisol levels, as well as lowering high blood pressure and gaining Vitamin D.
Spending longer outside is even better!
30 minutes:
Maximum time you should spend sitting down still. To maintain fitness and health if you are able to get out of a chair, do so even for just a quick stretch. Regular movement of any sort is beneficial. Our bodies adapt to how we move, so move more and we become fitter, sit still and our bodies adapt to the sitting position move less, we become less able.
3%.....
Average loss of muscle per year in adults over 60 years old.
Muscle loss is a key factor in early ageing, loss of mobility and a reduction in day to day function. It can be reversed with proper strength exercises – which reduce the risk of diabetes too! But it means putting your muscles under stress to help them get stronger.
From 3,000.... (or any number higher?)
The number of steps someone should take each day – depending on which study you look at!
The 10,000 steps number was made up. A range of research has highlighted that 3000 step minimum is seen to be beneficial.
The key message on this is ignore the numbers – but concentrate on walking as far as you can!
There is an excellent tool on increasing your walking (regardless of where you are starting from) which is produced by ‘Moving Medicine' .See link HERE
0.9%
The prevalence of heart failure in Northfield constituency area (2017/18). Northfield is reported to have the highest level of heart failure in Birmingham. Average nationally is 0.8%, in Birmingham 0.6%
Number 1 – this is you!
Regardless of any other statistic, number or person. As number 1, what matters is that you can maintain or improve your strength, movement and fitness and by doing so you can improve the quality of life as you grow older. !
Never too old:
Ed Dwight had to wait more than 60 years to fulfill his ambition to go to space.
In 1961, he was chosen by then US President John F Kennedy as the first black astronaut candidate in the country. But Nasa did not select him for a mission and he did not get a chance to go to space... until now.
In May the 90-year-old became the oldest person to go to space.The Blue Origin spacecraft took a six-person crew to the edge of space before parachuting them back to Earth.
BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
…………Age is just a number!