THE growth of our ageing population could be down to over-60s being increasingly conscious about keeping fit and active.

Far from putting their feet up after retiring, older people are embracing their spare time and using it to stay active and improve their health and well-being.

New research has shown that over-65s are the most frequent gym users in the county and the country.

You're never too old in the quest to keep fit - in Yorkshire it seems septuagenarians are leading the way with the 70 to 79-year-olds visiting the gym eight times per month. Most frequent users by age are 63 in Shipley; 73 in Guiseley and Cottingley and 70 in Harrogate. The average age of the most frequent user in the UK is 72.

The figures for Yorkshire clubs mirror the rest of the UK showing the older the gym member, the more regularly they exercise.

They also give a snapshot of the active lifestyles older people now lead along with the healthcare helping them to maintain their fitness.

Now Nuffield Health’s Leeds Hospital and Guiseley, Harrogate, Shipley and Cottingley gyms have joined forces to launch an innovative recovery programme for surgical patients aimed at improving long-term fitness and wellbeing for people following traumatic surgical procedures.

The Recovery Plus programme - a combination of personalised and focused rehabilitation, nutrition and exercise - is aimed at people who have undergone surgery for procedures such as hip and knee replacement, anterior cruciate ligament, spinal surgeries, as well as helping women recover more quickly from major gynaecological surgery like hysterectomy.

Nuffield Health doctors say active older patients, or those in poor general health, could benefit significantly from the prolonged care, and that the initiative provides a “community stepping stone” from hospital to help people cope with the difficulties of getting back to their daily routine.

The treatment could also play a vital role in helping prevent future hospital visits through increasing patient’s overall fitness levels and improving ‘heart health’, as well as giving protection to older patients through better mobility and protection from falls and injuries.

Consultant Knee Surgeon, Mr Nick London, of the Yorkshire Knee Clinic based at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital, said: “This exciting initiative complements the treatments we provide. Whether the surgery is for replacement surgery due to severe wear or reconstructive or ligament surgery for sports injuries, it is critically important for both the success of the surgery and the long-term goal of returning quality of life, strength and confidence to patients. If this can be combined with a general increase in their fitness and activity levels this is a win-win situation, particularly for those patients suffering from conditions which are related to reduced fitness and mobility, like obesity or high blood pressure."

Adam Ibbetson, Health Mentor at Nuffield Health Guiseley gym, works closely with physiotherapists to create a three-month rehabilitation programme for patients, with monthly checks to ensure they're progressing at the appropriate level, challenging them physically while keeping them safe. They also complete a detailed health assessment.

Nigel Kirkbright, from Guiseley, recently had a left hip replacement at Nuffield Health Leeds Hospital which was followed up by a 12-week Recovery Plus programme at Guiseley fitness and wellbeing gym.

Says Mr Kirkbright: “The care provided by the consultant Mr Veysi and the Leeds Nuffield Hospital Staff exceeded my expectations and whileI was aware before surgery that this was a major operation, I was determined from the outset to try and return to my previous level of fitness and wellbeing having previously enjoyed being involved in numerous sporting activities."

Covering 30 major surgical procedures, Recovery Plus is free to self-funding surgical patients of any age, if considered suitable by a consultant surgeon.