Strength for Life Adelaide Western Suburbs in conjunction with COTA
Strength for Life Classes at Inertia Health Group
Inertia Health Group is proud to be able provide Tier 1 COTA strength for life Exercise Classes at our Albert Park Clinic and support our older population in maintaining their health and fitness.
What is Strength For Life?
Strength for Life is a community exercise program established by the ‘council on the Aging’ or COTA for short.
Strength for life is an affordable and popular way for older South Australians to gain strength and stay fit. It is offered across 100 locations in SA it is designed to promote health and wellbeing for people aged 50+ years (40+ years for Aboriginal or Torrens Strait Islanders), it allows older Australians to keep active and maintain their physical and mental wellbeing whilst making friends in a supportive and fun environment.
When you join the strength for life program you will enjoy a range of health benefits:
- Supervised, progressive strength training sessions at least twice per week at an allocated time.
- At least one suitably qualified Exercise Physiologist will oversee the session.
- Assessment by an Exercise Physiologist
- A personalised exercise program.
- An accessible and safe environment for people aged 50+ years with venue safety guidelines and risk protocols in place.
- Opportunities to socialise with other participants before and after exercise sessions.
The Type of Strength For Life Sessions Available at Inertia Health Group
Inertia Health Group is accredited to provide Tier 1 Classes. In our Tier 1 classes Exercise Physiologists are directly involved in the program with baseline testing conducted at the commencement of the program and at 3 months after beginning.
With Tier 1 sessions you may be able to claim a health fund rebate from your health insurer, however, we advise checking with them prior (in some cases there maybe the ability to claim a medicare rebates where eligible)
What are the Benefits of Strength Training?
Regular strength and balance training under the supervision of an Exercise Physiologist, is a low-risk activity for people aged 50+ that will help you stay active and maintain an independent lifestyle for longer. Muscle strength can be regained and maintained no matter your age or physical condition.
Improved Muscle Strength training has been shown to:
- Improve balance and reduce risk of falling
- Improve body composition (more muscle, less fat)
- Raise self-esteem and self-confidence, and enhance mental wellbeing
- Reduce lower back pain
- Alleviate the effects of chronic conditions such as arthritis, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease
- Enhance older people’s ability to undertake day-to-day activities with more ease.
Costs to Participate
Strength for Life is an affordable way for people aged 50+ to improve their fitness and overall wellbeing which makes it an accessible options for most people.
The below table outlines the maximum fees you will pay to participate in Strength for Life programs.
| Type | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Initial assessment and fitness testing with exercise physiologist or physiotherapist | $65 |
| Tier 1 | Session cost where session is conducted by an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist (or an equivalent monthly or weekly fee) | $12 |
How to join a Strength for Life Program
Joining a Strength for Life program is an easy two-step process.
Step 1 — Complete the necessary forms
To enrol in a Strength for Life program you must complete forms for the relevant tier of programs you wish to participate in.
- Enrolment Form
- Pre-activity screening questionnaire
- Medical referral form — only if you answer yes to any questions on the pre-activity screening questionnaire
- Allied health referral form — only if you have had recent treatment with a physiotherapist or exercise physiologist for a musculoskeletal issue.
Step 2 — Book in an assessment
When you have completed all relevant forms, contact the Strength for Life Provider that you would like to attend and book in for an assessment — please take all forms with you.
Please note: we also have these available in hard copy from our reception staff
Enrolment Form ………………………………………………………………………………….(download)
Screening Questionnaire ……………………………………………………………………….(download)
Allied Health Referral Form …………………………………………………………………..(download)
Tier 1 Medical Referral Form …………………………………………………………………(download)
