Understanding Back Pain: Movement, Strength and Confidence in Later Life Practical CPD

Description

Back pain is one of the most common reasons people experience discomfort, reduced confidence and fear around movement. In later life, this can affect everyday activities such as getting out of a chair, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, gardening, climbing stairs and maintaining balance.

This practical CPD helps instructors understand the key principles of back care in accessible, non-clinical language. You’ll explore basic spine structure and function, the role of the core, hips, glutes, legs and upper back, and how ageing, inactivity, posture, strength, fear of movement and daily habits can influence back comfort and function.

The focus is not on diagnosing, assessing or treating back pain. Instead, you’ll learn how to offer safe, general movement opportunities for participants who have been cleared to exercise and are able to take part comfortably.

You’ll explore how to adapt seated and standing exercises to support spinal mobility, core function, strength, balance and everyday independence. You’ll also learn which exercises, positions and teaching approaches may be unsuitable or higher risk in a general older-adult group exercise setting.

The CPD will also cover red flag awareness, safety screening, appropriate signposting and clear professional boundaries, helping you feel confident supporting class members safely, positively and within scope.

What instructors will get from the CPD

By the end of the session, learners will be able to:

• understand basic spine structure and function in simple, participant-friendly language
• explain why appropriate movement is generally encouraged for non-specific low back pain
• recognise how ageing, inactivity, posture, strength, fear of movement and daily habits may affect back comfort
• understand that core function is about more than abdominal strength
• explore the role of breathing, the diaphragm, pelvic floor, hips, glutes, legs, upper back and postural muscles
• adapt seated and standing exercises to support comfort, confidence and safe participation
• offer suitable progressions and regressions for common class exercises
• recognise exercises and teaching approaches that may be unsuitable or higher risk
• use positive cueing that encourages movement confidence without creating fear
• understand red flags and know when to signpost to a GP, physiotherapist or healthcare professional
• stay clearly within scope by offering safe general movement, not diagnosis or treatment

CPD Dates: 

Online – Saturday 6th February 2027

Online – Saturday 10th July 2027

Birmingham – Saturday 9th October 2027

Online – Saturday 6th November 2027

The training day is 10am-4pm. 

For the online CPD day, we will use Zoom (please check your system requirements here) to deliver these CPDs so you will require a stable internet connection. Please read the requirements for completing your practical CPD online here. By booking an online date, you’re accepting you will meet the requirements outlined.

Please ensure you wear appropriate clothing and footwear to participate – trainers are recommended.

Please note by booking onto the CPD, you agree to these terms and conditions. 

Discounted instructor rate is available to currently licensed Move it or Lose it® instructors only. Licence status will be verified prior to the event.