76-year-old Phyllis from Broxburn has been living with osteoporosis in her spine for 15 years.
Phyllis is a member of our amazing Xcite Ageing Well Project as well as a volunteer and has found our exercise classes and walking has helped manage her condition.
There are approximately 300,000 people in Scotland with osteoporosis, which has no cure. This figure is likely to rise as the average age of the population increases. In the UK, 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men will suffer a fracture at some point after the age of 50, mainly because of poor bone health.
Adopting a healthy, active lifestyle through walking regularly and performing strength and balance exercises at least twice a week can help to: increase muscle strength, improve balance, decrease the risk of bone fractures, maintain or improve posture, and relieve or decrease pain.
Phyllis’s story prompted the Scottish Parliament to recognise the project and Local MSP Fiona Hyslop placed a motion in the Scottish Parliament supporting Xcite's Ageing Well’s project work.
Get more info here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/votes-and-motions/votes-and-motions-search/S6M-02173
This is fantastic recognition for Avril and the team, its volunteers, and participants. A massive well done to you all!
For more information on the Xcite Ageing Well Project, click here.
Check out this fab photo of Phyllis below:
