Can you Get Up and Go?
Can you Get Up and Go? It’s so important to keep moving as we age, yet so many people become sedentary. At Move it or Lose we reach tens of thousands of people each week through our network of amazing instructors helping older people to live happy, healthy and more active lives in our community exercise classes.
But what about those unable to go to a class, in care or in hospital? Arguably, these are people that we need to reach the most as they often are the most sedentary and least physically active. This leads to sarcopenia (the loss of muscle mass and strength), frailty, increased risk of falling, loss of independence and ultimately a greater demand on the health and care system.
However, we know that moving more and sitting less can make huge improvements to physical, cognitive and mental health. This doesn’t need to include complicated exercises or require specialist equipment. Just simple movements to stimulate the muscles and the joints can make big improvements to mobility and the ability to remain independent. The more we move, the more we are able to keep moving – it really is a case of move it or lose it!
So we’ve created the Get Up and Go app with simple to follow exercise videos that can be done from a bed or a chair. The videos cover a top to toe workout that is safe and effective and has been approved by consultant geriatricians, physiotherapists and exercise specialists.
The app has been designed to be used by both the individual or a carer and is easy to use. If you are a carer or a volunteer, you can create profiles for your clients/patients:
Then select whether to watch and follow the exercises for the bed or the chair. Just click on the ‘View Chair Exercise’ or ‘View Bed Exercise button’ (rather than the arrow or the picture):
The app will ask if you would like to complete a questionnaire when you finish watching a video. The questionnaire will track improvements to mood, mobility, confidence and independence levels and length of stay, if in hospital:
You can use the app as many times as you wish, watching the videos on smartphones or tablets if you prefer a larger screen.
The app is free and you get it on by Apple (iOS) and Android devices from the App Store and Google Play Store respectively – just search for ‘Get Up and Go’.
Find the app here:
