“If physical activity were a drug, we would refer to it as a miracle cure, due to the great many illnesses it can prevent and help treat.”
UK Chief Medical Officers, 2019
Research clearly shows the powerful impact physical activity has on our health and wellbeing, but did you know it can help prevent and manage over 30 different chronic medical conditions? Studies have found that up to 40% of long-term conditions could be prevented through activity.*
* by meeting the UK Chief Medical Officer’s physical activity recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
Beyond prevention, there is good evidence to demonstrate that regular physical activity can benefit people with a number of diseases including but not limited to, diabetes, dementia, depression and COPD.
In Scotland, data from the Scottish Health Survey in 2020 showed that almost half (47%) of all adults report living with a long-term condition, with 31% reporting that they live with a limiting long-term condition (a health condition that interferes with daily life).
Living with long-term health conditions can often be seen as a barrier to getting active and can have a huge impact on wellbeing. However, there is clear evidence to show that the benefits of increasing physical activity far outweigh the risks.
Moving in any way, every day, can play an important role in helping manage long-term conditions and improve quality of life.
We recognise that living with a long-term health condition can be frustrating and worrying and can affect how you feel. This can make it harder to manage your health condition. Finding ways to move and de-stress can boost your mood and help cope with managing your condition. If you’re unsure where to start, you can use our 5 in 5 resource for inspiration. The 5 in 5 resource was inspired by the “We are undefeatable” campaign Five in Five – We Are Undefeatable and has been developed to support people to move for 5 minutes in any way they like. There are exercises for inspiration for example, to feel more energised, to build strength, to relax or to practice your balance.
5 in 5
Click the following link to view the 5 in 5 resource online: 5 in 5
If you would like a paper version please get in touch with us via email shet.healthyshetland@nhs.scot.
5-in-5-guideImproving Population Health and Wellbeing