University of Hertfordshire-led project helping older adults to fall safely
A University of Hertfordshire-led project using judo to tackle hundreds of thousands of fall-related hospital admissions each year by teaching older adults how to fall safely is launching across the UK.
British Judo is launching the Finding Your Feet programme, developed by Mike Callan, Professor of Judo education at the University of Hertfordshire in collaboration Anglia Ruskin University, which will see qualified judo coaches teaching older adults exercises to improve balance, strength and safe falling techniques based on the principles of judo.
These exercises and movements aim to reduce the fear of falling and minimise the injuries, and further negative impact resulting from a fall.
In England there are currently around 210,000 fall-related hospital admissions for over-65s a year, according to an Age UK report.
Separate figures also show that falls are the number one reason older people are taken to A&E, with unaddressed fall hazards in homes costing the NHS in England an estimated £435 million, according to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID); as one in three adults over 65 and half of people over 80 will have at least one fall a year according to the NHS.
Fragility fractures – which can occur from falling – also cost the UK an estimated £4.4 billion a year, according to the OHID.
To address the problem, Finding Your Feet sessions are teaching older adults – and the wider general public – how to keep their balance, fall safely and get up easily using adapted judo techniques.
A series of “train the trainer” sessions are being rolled out to judo coaches, ready for the sessions to start being delivered to the general public in the second half of 2024.
The sessions will touch on up to 18 different judo techniques that have been adapted for this specific population, including yoko ukemi, which is a sideways fall that teaches the three principles of falling, which include protecting the head, creating a large surface area and the timing and rolling element.
Other key techniques will include learning how to tuck the chin in when falling backwards, how to fall forward safely without using hands, and rolling techniques to get up safely.
Professor Callan, who is a member of the International Judo Federation Scientific Committee, is leading the global roll out of safer falling for older adults through judo.
He said: “Judo coaches have a valuable skill set as they understand the key principles of falling safely.
“By teaching these techniques to older adults, judo can make a significant contribution to a particular problem for society.”
Dr Katrina McDonald from Anglia Ruskin University, who is also a judo coach herself, helped to write the Finding Your Feet programme for British Judo.
She said: “There is a vicious circle associated with falling that the Finding Your Feet programme is aiming to break.
“When an individual has a fall, they are scared of it happening again and so they 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 of mitigating a fear of falling is by giving older people – and the wider public – the tools and knowledge to be able to fall in a way that lowers the risk of injury, and, in turn, boosts their confidence to be able to become more active.
“While the programme is in its early stages it has great potential to make a meaningful difference not just to older adults, but the whole of society, and I am looking forward to seeing it gain momentum.”
Nick Shepherd, Lead Club Support Officer at British Judo, is one of the tutors delivering the “train the trainer” sessions.
He added: “The Finding Your Feet programme epitomises what judo is all about – it is a sport for everyone which strives to have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives.
“While the sessions have been adapted to help improve older people’s confidence with falling, we are encouraging anyone who has a fear of falling to register their interest with us for one of the sessions later in the year.”