Ageing experts talk about Sir Ian McKellen’s fall and strength training in the media

Glasgow Caledonian University Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy Dr David Hegarty and Professor in Ageing and Health Dawn Skelton have been sharing their expertise on BBC Radio and The Telegraph this week.

David appeared on the BBC Radio Scotland Mornings show with Stephen Jardine after multi-award-winning actor Sir Ian McKellen fell during a live performance of Player Kings at the Noel Coward Theatre in London.

His research focuses on neurology, care of the older person and palliative care, and has experience in gerontology, palliative, sports, out-patient and neurological physiotherapy.

David told the audience: "Each year about a third of older adults in our society have a fall and about 40% of those people go back into hospital within six months because they haven't had the rehabilitation and support they need during their recovery time to get back on their feet.

"It is a real challenge for older adults but it's more common than you would think, as we saw that in the news with Sir Ian's fall. Thankfully, we are starting to see him recover and he's hopefully going to be back soon to continue performing. It's getting back out of your comfort zone and getting back into activity, as soon as you are able to, that really is the key to recovery."

Professor Dawn Skelton is the School of Health and Life Sciences' Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) Ageing Well Research Group Co-Lead, and David is a key researcher in the group. They are both based in the Department of Physiotherapy and Paramedicine.

You can listen to David's interview hear by skipping to 2.50 - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00207s2 and read a full copy of Professor Skelton's piece on how to stay supple in old age in The Telegraph - https://www.aol.co.uk/news/nine-health-benefits-regular-strength-100000327.html?guccounter=1

Professor Skelton told The Telegraph: "Maintaining the size of your muscles protects your brain health. The stronger you are, the better cognition you'll have.

"It's thought that strength training improves blood flow to the brain, reduces inflammation that can accelerate cognitive decline, and stimulates the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which helps produce new brain cells."

She added that lifting weights could also help stave off winter colds and flu: "Strong muscles are vital for good immune function, helping us fight infections."

Find out more about our physiotherapy course - https://www.gcu.ac.uk/study/courses/undergraduate-physiotherapy-glasgow