Episode 45

Healthy Aging Starts at 40: Muscle Health, Frailty, and Practical Tips from Bollen Health

In this episode of Medicubes, hosts Kim and Riwka are joined by Dr Chris Bollen (Adelaide GP and Director of Bollen Health) and Jane Bollen (Primary Health Care Nurse Consultant) to discuss healthy ageing, focusing on primary care strategies for supporting muscle health, preventing frailty, and promoting independence from age 40 onwards.

Exploring the importance of addressing muscle health proactively, the role of GPs and nurses in screening for pre-frailty, and practical approaches for embedding evidence-based practices in health assessments.

Key Points:

  • Frailty is not an inevitable part of ageing: Highlighting that frailty can be prevented and reversed with early intervention, and it should not be assumed as a normal consequence of ageing.
  • Importance of muscle health: Loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) is a key factor in the development of frailty, and maintaining muscle strength is essential for prolonging independence and reducing complications.
  • Simple interventions: Encouraging patients to perform simple strength exercises, such as regular sit-to-stands, and increasing dietary protein intake is said to be actionable self-management strategies.
  • Patient-centred goals: Linking assessment and interventions to personal patient goals can improve engagement and drive meaningful behaviour change.
  • Nutrition advice: Providing practical pointers for supporting protein intake and dispels myths about dietary restrictions in ageing, emphasising food-based approaches before supplementation.
  • Reviewing current practice: Urges practices to focus on evidence-based assessments in health checks and care plans, instead of non-essential tests. Muscle health checks can be a valuable measure in nurse-led clinics and health assessments.


Providing primary care managers, nurses, and GPs with practical considerations for implementing muscle health initiatives and reframing healthy ageing as a core component of preventive care.


Link & Resources:

Nutrition Assessment

Dietitian Connection


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About the Podcast

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Medicubes
The Medicubes team bring you a monthly panel conversation of exciting and challenging topics in primary health care, answering listener questions and invited guests to the discussions.

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About your hosts

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Kim Poyner

Accredited Health Coach and executive coach, with over 20 years of experience in General Practice and Intensive Care Units. Mentor to health professionals and organisations to achieve their best, specialising in chronic disease management, coaching, and change management programs.
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Riwka Hagen

An experienced general practice manager, with a passion for leadership development, coaching, and business management in the health sector. As the Director of Medical Business Services and Medical Business Coaching, she provides consulting, advisory, coaching, training, and mentoring services to health organisations Australia-wide, and is also the founder of the highly active Facebook group 'Practice Managers Network'.
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Chris Smeed

A lover of all things Practice Management and Data. Always thinking of ways to make life easier and to help with patient outcomes.