Pensioners will be given judo lessons to improve their balance and teach them how to fall safely in a bid to reduce injuries and hospital admissions.
Coaches from the sporting body British Judo will cover 18 different judo techniques which have been adapted for elderly Britons at risk of harm.
The exercises and movements aim to increase strength and balance, reduce fear of falling, and minimize fall injuries.
Experts will also demonstrate how to get up easily after a fall, as part of the national Finding Your Feet program.
According to Age UK, there are around 210,000 fall-related hospital admissions in England each year for people aged over 65.
Coaches from the sporting body British Judo will tackle 18 different judo techniques which have been adapted for elderly Britons at risk of harm.
One in three people over 65 and half of those over 80 will suffer at least one fall a year, and fragility fractures cost the UK approximately £4.4 billion a year.
Separate figures show that falls are the main reason older people are taken to A&E, with unaddressed falls risks in homes costing NHS England an estimated £435 million.
Techniques taught include yoko ukemi, which is a side fall that instills the three principles of landing: protecting the head, creating a large surface area, and timing and rolling.
Other key techniques will include learning to tuck your chin in when landing backward and landing forward without using your hands.
A series of “coach training” sessions has already begun, with judo coaches preparing to teach classes to the general public starting in the second half of this year.
Dr Katrina McDonald, judo coach and senior lecturer in sport and exercise science at Anglia Ruskin University, helped write the Finding Your Feet program for British Judo.
She said: ‘There is a vicious cycle associated with falls which the Finding Your Feet program aims to break.
“When a person has a fall, they fear it will happen again and so limit their activity, but this in turn weakens their muscles and balance, which, over time, can increase the risk of another fall.
“A key way to mitigate the fear of falling is to provide older people (and the general public) with the tools and knowledge to be able to fall in a way that reduces the risk of injury and, in turn, increases their confidence to fall. be safe. able to become more active.
“While the program is in its early stages, it has great potential to make a significant difference not only for older adults, but for society as a whole, and I look forward to seeing it gain momentum.”
Professor Mike Callan, from the University of Hertfordshire and member of the Scientific Committee of the International Judo Federation, is leading the global rollout of safer falls for older adults through judo.
He said: ‘Judo coaches have a valuable skill set as they understand the key principles of landing safely.
“By teaching these techniques to older adults, judo can contribute significantly to a specific problem in society.”
Nick Shepherd, British Judo’s senior club support officer and one of the tutors delivering the ‘train the trainer’ sessions, said: “The Finding Your Feet program epitomizes what judo is all about – it is a sport for everyone who strives to have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives.
“While the sessions have been adapted to help improve older people’s confidence in falling, we encourage anyone who has a fear of falling to register their interest with us at one of the sessions later this year.”
