Lifting for a healthier life

After Christine Tan broke her left wrist in early 2025, she couldn’t lift a cup of tea with her injured hand.

Now she can drink her tea – and lift a 10kg bag of rice – thanks to an innovative strength training programme at Guy’s Hospital to encourage healthy ageing.

Lift for Life is a resistance training programme designed and led by physiotherapists specifically for suitable people referred through the Older Person’s Assessment Unit.

Small in-person group classes run weekly for 10 weeks, aiming to improve fitness and create a programme which people can continue at home or in a local gym.

Each participant has a bespoke plan developed by a physiotherapist, and they are guided through the classes to ensure correct technique and strength development. They are also given advice on how to practise the exercises at home in between classes and once they complete the course.

Christine, 82, is a retired district nurse living in Southwark and keeps herself active with classes in tai chi, yoga and Zumba. She had never done any weightlifting exercises until she was referred to Lift for Life as part of her wrist rehabilitation.

Christine said: “After I broke my wrist, I was diagnosed with osteopenia (a loss of bone density), so they thought the classes would be good for me.

“Using the weights strengthened my left hand. You start with light weights and gradually build up.

"I really enjoyed the classes and now I’m back to normal – including lifting my cup of tea and doing my yoga, which I wasn’t able to do before.

“At the beginning, I was worried about lifting heavy weights but I improved. The classes are a really good idea to help people get back to their daily lives.”
 

After Pantelis Abraham, 92, started taking part in Lift for Life, he bought his own weights to continue exercising at home.

Pantelis said: “I’d never tried dumbbells before, but now I like them and I do my exercises every morning. The classes are great for elderly people, and I would recommend them. You just need to try.”

The classes were started by physiotherapist James Cameron, who identified a need for higher intensity, resistance training to help support the NHS long term plan of disease prevention.

Lift for Life has been popular since it started in October 2024, benefitting more than 50 people so far and with a waiting list of patients referred by clinicians.

James said: “Weight bearing exercises are important for our bone health and overall fitness but many older adults don’t do any resistance training.

“We developed Lift for Life at the Trust to provide structured, individual support for people to improve their strength, confidence and ability to do everyday tasks.

“We tailor the classes and exercises to each person’s own ability and goals, and encourage them to continue the workouts at home and after the programme finishes.

“People who have taken part have really enjoyed the classes. It’s been very encouraging to see them develop their strength and confidence.”