The Institute for Musculoskeletal Health runs Choose to Move program in Australia for the first time.
 

Marija Vizintin is celebrating reaching her goal.  

“I’ve started to do exercises with weights three or four times a week. I couldn’t push myself to do it on my own,” she said.  

Marija, 65, is one of 14 older women who last month completed the Choose to Move program run for the first time in Australia by the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health – a partnership between Sydney Local Health District and the University of Sydney.  

Choose to Move is a free and flexible program that provides people aged 50 and over with motivation and support to become more active. It helps them integrate activity into their daily routine, meet new friends and make a positive change in their lives.  

To begin, the Institute's research physiotherapist, Betty Ramsay, helped Marija, and each other participant, to set physical activity goals, talked through any challenges they experience to being active and strategies to overcome them.  

“The goal of the program is to increase people’s physical activity, to provide social connections for people and to provide education sessions on different topics around healthy ageing,” Betty said.  

She facilitated eight group meetings at the Older Women’s Network in Newtown, including education on topics such as physical activity, falls prevention and nutrition as well as movement breaks and group discussions.  

“This combination of coaching, education and connection is a new way for us to support older people to live fully in the best health that they can,” Betty said. 

Marija thrived in the positive group environment.  

“We have a group of women who have shared their experiences. We check in on each other and we talk with each other about obstacles,” she said.  

Choose to Move was developed in Canada. The Institute has adapted the program for Australians with funding from a National Health and Medical Research Council grant.  

Choose to Move has just started its sixth program in Sydney and will be running more in coming months. For more information visit the website or contact choosetomove.study@sydney.edu.au