We all want to stay on our feet longer—here’s how Aussies are doing it!
- Replies 4
A simple misstep can lead to devastating consequences—especially as we age.
With thousands of Australians hospitalised each year after a fall, experts are sounding the alarm on a preventable health crisis.
Now, new tools and techniques are offering hope for those wanting to stay steady on their feet.
Every day, around 400 Australians found themselves in hospital due to a fall—a figure that painted a troubling picture of just how dangerous a simple stumble could become, especially with age.
Falls didn’t just lead to broken bones and bruises. According to experts, more than 7000 people lost their lives each year in Australia due to fall-related injuries.
But a growing body of research suggested that a straightforward home routine could help change that grim statistic.
Professor Kim Delbaere from Neuroscience Research Australia had been working alongside her team on a new way to help Australians regain their footing—literally.
The group developed *Standing Tall*, a mobile app offering guided exercises designed to improve strength and balance from the comfort of home.
‘The key thing to prevent falls is to do challenging balance exercises, and it has to be quite frequent, so we would say two hours a week for at least six months,’ Delbaere explained.
‘And if you do that, well, you can reduce your risk of falling by 30 per cent.’
That kind of reduction in risk had already started making a difference for users of the app, but *Standing Tall* wasn’t the only approach being explored.
In Sydney’s inner west, another fall-fighting strategy was in play—this one rooted in ancient practice rather than modern technology.
At 77 years old, tai chi grand master Gary Khor was using his decades of experience to help older Australians stay upright and avoid serious injury.
His classes didn’t just focus on balance and posture—they also offered advice on how to fall safely when a fall was unavoidable.
‘So normally when we fall we automatically put a foot forward to try to stop the fall,’ Khor said.
‘That’s when tai chi comes in, movement number two is to push the bottom down now your weight is falling straight down. So not forward. You’re not falling anymore.’
With so many lives affected each year, both approaches—digital and traditional—offered renewed hope for preventing serious harm. And while losing balance with age might be common, it didn’t have to be a death sentence.
Resources like *Standing Tall* and tai chi training were starting to rewrite the story of what ageing could look like in Australia...one steady step at a time.
Falls might seem like a minor hazard, but as the years go on, even a simple trip can turn into something far more serious.
If you or someone you love has ever worried about staying steady, this eye-opening report is worth your time.
Watch the full story to see just how big this issue really is—and what can be done about it.
Source: Youtube/A Current Affair
Have you ever tried tai chi or followed a balance routine to stay steady on your feet? Let us know your experience in the comments.
Staying steady on your feet is just one part of staying well as we age—but emotional wellbeing matters just as much.
For seniors who may feel isolated or miss regular connection, even a simple gesture can brighten the day.
One community came up with a heartwarming solution that might just deliver more than letters.
Read more: Feeling left out? This cheerful post box wants to talk to you
With thousands of Australians hospitalised each year after a fall, experts are sounding the alarm on a preventable health crisis.
Now, new tools and techniques are offering hope for those wanting to stay steady on their feet.
Every day, around 400 Australians found themselves in hospital due to a fall—a figure that painted a troubling picture of just how dangerous a simple stumble could become, especially with age.
Falls didn’t just lead to broken bones and bruises. According to experts, more than 7000 people lost their lives each year in Australia due to fall-related injuries.
But a growing body of research suggested that a straightforward home routine could help change that grim statistic.
New home routine could help prevent deadly falls. Image source: Pexels/Stéf -b.
Professor Kim Delbaere from Neuroscience Research Australia had been working alongside her team on a new way to help Australians regain their footing—literally.
The group developed *Standing Tall*, a mobile app offering guided exercises designed to improve strength and balance from the comfort of home.
‘The key thing to prevent falls is to do challenging balance exercises, and it has to be quite frequent, so we would say two hours a week for at least six months,’ Delbaere explained.
‘And if you do that, well, you can reduce your risk of falling by 30 per cent.’
That kind of reduction in risk had already started making a difference for users of the app, but *Standing Tall* wasn’t the only approach being explored.
In Sydney’s inner west, another fall-fighting strategy was in play—this one rooted in ancient practice rather than modern technology.
At 77 years old, tai chi grand master Gary Khor was using his decades of experience to help older Australians stay upright and avoid serious injury.
His classes didn’t just focus on balance and posture—they also offered advice on how to fall safely when a fall was unavoidable.
‘So normally when we fall we automatically put a foot forward to try to stop the fall,’ Khor said.
‘That’s when tai chi comes in, movement number two is to push the bottom down now your weight is falling straight down. So not forward. You’re not falling anymore.’
With so many lives affected each year, both approaches—digital and traditional—offered renewed hope for preventing serious harm. And while losing balance with age might be common, it didn’t have to be a death sentence.
Resources like *Standing Tall* and tai chi training were starting to rewrite the story of what ageing could look like in Australia...one steady step at a time.
Falls might seem like a minor hazard, but as the years go on, even a simple trip can turn into something far more serious.
If you or someone you love has ever worried about staying steady, this eye-opening report is worth your time.
Watch the full story to see just how big this issue really is—and what can be done about it.
Source: Youtube/A Current Affair
Have you ever tried tai chi or followed a balance routine to stay steady on your feet? Let us know your experience in the comments.
Staying steady on your feet is just one part of staying well as we age—but emotional wellbeing matters just as much.
For seniors who may feel isolated or miss regular connection, even a simple gesture can brighten the day.
One community came up with a heartwarming solution that might just deliver more than letters.
Read more: Feeling left out? This cheerful post box wants to talk to you
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