0131 221 1415
Active X Clinics

Active for Life: Strength Training for Older Adults in Edinburgh

Active for Life is how Active X Clinics helps you move beyond pain relief to staying strong, steady and independent as you get older. Based at our West End clinic in Edinburgh, it combines progressive strength training with exercise, nutrition and lifestyle support. It suits anyone who wants to keep doing the things they love for years to come, including women thinking about bone strength after the menopause.
BOOK YOUR ACTIVE FOR LIFE ASSESSMENT
ActiveX 14.6 84 scaled

What is Active for Life?

Our approach has always been about relieving pain today and preventing it tomorrow. Active for Life is the second half of that promise. Once any pain has settled, we help you build the strength, balance and confidence to stop problems coming back and to stay independent for longer.

The programme was developed by our Clinic Director, Gavin Routledge, who is a lifestyle medicine professional, health coach and osteopath with 35 years of experience and a Masters Degree in Pain Management. It’s delivered by our team of osteopaths, physiotherapists and our sports scientist Sam Jones and his team in the clinic’s dedicated exercise studio.

ActiveX 14.6 89

Why Our Approach Is Different

Plenty of gyms offer strength classes. What makes Active for Life different is the clinical expertise behind it.
  • Pain expertise first. Gavin has spent decades specialising in back pain and sciatica, so if something hurts, we deal with it before it holds you back.
  • One team under one roof. Osteopaths, physiotherapists and our exercise specialists work together on your plan, so you are never left guessing who to ask.
  • Progress you can see. We test your strength, balance and endurance again over time, so you have real evidence that your body is on track.
  • Support between sessions. Coaching and accountability help you keep going when motivation dips, which is where most exercise plans fall down.
  • Safe from day one. Everyone starts with an assessment, and we fit around any diagnosis or advice from your GP.
Osteopath Caspar Giffard Tutt explaining 2

Bone Strength, Muscle and the Menopause

Muscle strength and bone density tend to fall gradually as we age, and bone loss speeds up for many women after the menopause. Often, there are no symptoms until everyday tasks start to feel harder. Strength and weight-bearing exercise can help you hold on to both, and it is never too late to start.

Our approach is simple: start low and build slowly. We take into account any diagnosis such as osteopenia or osteoporosis, and increase the load step by step as your body adapts. We work alongside your GP or consultant, not instead of them.

ActiveX 14.6 69

How the Active for Life journey works

1. Take the Independent and Active Scorecard

The free Independent and Active Scorecard takes about three minutes. It asks you to picture the life you want in 10 to 15 years and consider how much real evidence you have that your body is on track. It is a prompt for reflection, not a diagnosis.

When you are ready for the next step, book an assessment. So that we can introduce you to the programme safely, everyone starts with a 30 minute Active for Life Assessment (AFLA). We keep the cost of this to an absolute minimum – £25. This will give you an objective measure of where you’re starting from.

That way you can see evidence of your progress as it happens.

We’ll run you through a few simple tests to determine your starting level and ensure you will start and progress safely.

It is also a chance to ask questions and make sure the programme is right for you. If you are in pain, we help you settle that first.

Back From The Edge is our structured transformation programme. It helps you build sustainable changes into your life, so you can start building a body you can trust to keep you independent and active for life. It currently runs for 12 weeks, with remote coaching and accountability built in. We start a new cohort most months.
Momentum keeps you moving in the right direction once you have built a solid foundation. Regular check-ins and repeat testing of your strength, balance and endurance help us spot small changes before they become setbacks.
ActiveX 14.6 76

Active for Life stories

Our Active for Life Stories show how patients have approached the decisions that come with getting older. Linn combined medical advice with strengthening and weight-bearing exercise after an osteoporosis diagnosis. Maggie focused on strength and daily walking after being told she was likely to need a hip replacement. Every person is different, and these stories describe individual experiences rather than typical results.

Working with partners

We also work with clinics, golf clubs and other organisations that want to help their members stay strong and active for longer. To talk about a partnership, contact us or email allie@active-x.co.uk.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be in pain to start Active for Life?

No. Many people join because they feel well and want to stay that way. If you do have pain, we deal with that first and then move on to building strength.
Yes. Most people start with little or no experience. We begin at a level that feels manageable, coach your technique and build up gradually.
In most cases, yes. Your assessment takes your scan results and medical history into account, and we tailor the programme to you. If anything needs medical input, we will let you know.
At our West End clinic, 10 Atholl Place, Edinburgh EH3 8HP, a short walk from Haymarket station.

Start your Active for Life journey

Take the free Independent and Active Scorecard to see where you stand, or BOOK YOUR ACTIVE FOR LIFE ASSESSMENT at our West End clinic. You can also call us on 0131 221 1415.
+441312211415
START WITH AN ASSESSMENT