Fall prevention courses launch

Sjoerd (78) from Gorredijk received an invitation from the municipality to participate in a fitness test at the local gym. The test, organized by Sport Fryslân and Sûnenz, showed that Sjoerd had an increased risk of falling. That was reason for both Sjoerd and his wife Fonneke (71) to enroll in the fall prevention course In Balans. A 12-week training course in which we work on mobility, muscle strength and balance.

Learning and having fun

Each week they were in exercise for an hour with a group of 18 participants. Not only were the muscles exercised, but also the brain. The exercises were sometimes challenging. Fonneke laughingly explains, "One of the most fun exercises was with colored balls. Depending on the color you had to pass the ball in a certain way - for example, to the left, to the right, or skip someone while calling the name of a participant. That's trickier than you think, after all, and quite hilarious!"

Tailored exercise

During the fitness test, Sjoerd filled out a questionnaire about his health. For example, whether he suffers from his knee, ankle or shoulder. This allowed the supervisor to adjust the exercises to his capabilities. Sjoerd: "That was really well taken into account."

Meeting and exercise comes together

In addition to exercise, there was plenty of room for fun and socializing. What Sjoerd and Fonneke especially remember is the sociability. "It was a fun group and that makes it really valuable," says Sjoerd. Fonneke adds: "Sometimes we stayed for coffee afterwards. That makes it more than a course; it brings people back together." Sjoerd and Fonneke experienced it together as an outing - that's how much fun it was, thanks also to the nice professional guidance.

Small changes in daily life

During the lessons they received practical tips that can be directly applied in everyday life. Fonneke: "I sometimes say to my husband now: widen your legs a little, then you stand firmer." Even simple adjustments such as dressing sitting down make a difference. Sjoerd: "You often think: I can still do that standing up. But it's wiser to just sit down." By making small adjustments, you can reduce the risk of falling. In addition to being more aware of their posture, Sjoerd and Fonneke experience more self-confidence after the course.

Keeping moving 

They still do exercises at home every morning. Fonneke: "You do have to keep moving. Just standing on your toes or balancing on one leg." On a mat, they practice balance and strength, sometimes even with a creative twist. Fonneke: "'We use a line of our wooden floor to practice keeping balance. That way we keep it fun and practical." They are enthusiastic about the tips they received. They liked the course so much that they are looking forward to a follow-up course in the fall.

Highly recommended for all

Would they recommend the course? Their answer is clear: "yes!" Fonneke: "If you participate and keep moving, you really notice a difference." Sjoerd concludes, "I also found the contact and the fun we had together very important. " So with the In Balans course you not only work on your physical health, but also on self-confidence and social contacts.