PARKOUR HELPS OLDER PEOPLE IMPROVE AGILITY AND STRENGTH

SINGAPORE, AUGUST 11 /SRNA-Reuters/ - Older residents of Singapore have the opportunity to sign up for parkour training, one of the more demanding urban athletic disciplines, which can improve their health and strength and reduce the risk of injury in the event of a fall.

"Interest in the training program called ‘Movement Singapore’ has surged recently. Parkour is an intense discipline that teaches people how to fall safely and avoid serious injuries that, in older people, could lead to a loss of confidence in their ability to move around," coach Tan Shi Boon said.

Boon, who began training older people in November 2017, said that the contrast between a sport considered highly risky and the age of the participants had probably attracted public attention and helped the "Movement Singapore" page go viral on Instagram.

Singapore, which last year entered the category of "super-aged" societies, where more than one-fifth of the population is aged 65 or older, faces the serious challenge of maintaining the health of its 6.1 million older residents.