43. Don’t fall into hospital – Adrian Pretorius
From Learning How To Be Old by Rachel McAlpine
February 24, 2026 · 27 min · Season 5 · Episode 43
About this episode
Adrian Pretorius shares strategies and tools to prevent falls and maintain strength and balance as we age.
Look, you don't want to fall over, do you, especially if you're old and your bones are brittle. Luckily there's plenty of scientific evidence about how to build our strength and balance, and proof that it really works. Adrian Pretorius's work helps to keep hundreds of people out of hospital. He’s got tips, apps, and evidence which will help us to stay upright. And if you do fall over, you don’t want to get stuck on the floor or break something so that we land up in hospital. Personally, I’m very keen on avoiding that, aren’t you? Adrian has even got advice about that. New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has this goal for New Zealand residents: Live stronger for longer — prevent falls and fractures. Look for the low cost community-run Steady As You Go classes. NYMBL, an ingenious app, is free for all New Zealand residents over 50. Once last year I just fell over regardless, for no apparent reason, with no obvious cause. I didn't trip, slip, lose my balance, twist or stumble: I just felt as if someone popped the balloon of me and I collapsed. But thanks to one harmless and simple strategy, I fell softly and didn't hurt myself. So of course I asked Adrian to share…
People in this episode
Host: Rachel McAlpine
Guest: Adrian Pretorius
Topics covered
- fall prevention
- strength building
- balance
- health tips
- aging
Keywords
- falls
- balance
- strength
- health
- aging
- NYMBL
- ACC
- community classes
- prevent fractures
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: New Zealand's Accident Compensation Corporation
Products: NYMBL
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- 47. Timeless, ageless gardening with Lesley and Richard Evans · April 21, 2026 · 25 min
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