Physical Activity for Long Term Conditions

Disease Specific Resources for Patients:

  • ACE UP ‐ A pedometer intervention to increase walking in adults and older adults. An exciting proven practical walking intervention for general practices to help our patients walk more. This intervention has been shown to reduce cardiac events and fractures in those who took part.

Cancer

Cancer Research UK – Useful web site pages aimed at encouraging exercise as a way of reducing cancer risk.

Macmillan support materials – Information for those with cancer and after treatment. Ways to become active has links into activities near you.

Macmillan Cancer Support also has videos on the benefit of exercise after a cancer diagnosis. Search for Move More events on Macmillan’s website.

Cardiac health

British Heart Foundation – Advice on Staying Active.

Chronic kidney disease

National Kidney Federation and Kidney Research UK both have physical activity advice.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

The British Lung Foundation – Advice for patients on exercise.

Diabetes

Diabetes UK is a leading charity group with a wealth of diabetes information and resources both for patients and healthcare professionals.

Diabetes UK – Information on exercise for diabetes and other advice on diabetes management.

Disability

Activity Alliance – an organisation that supports and promotes activities for people with disabilities.

Fibromyalgia

NHS Choices self-help guidance on exercise for fibromyalgia

Mental Health

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has information on exercise and mental health for young people.

The MIND Get feel good programme provides tips, stories and support to help people with mental health conditions get active.

Multiple Sclerosis

The Multiple Sclerosis Trust – Patient information section on exercise.

Musculoskeletal Health

Versus Arthritis – Advice on exercise to manage pain and arthritis.

Versus Arthritis – Exercise sheets for patients on:

  • Ankle sprain exercises
  • Back pain exercises
  • Knee pain exercises
  • Neck pain exercises
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Shoulder pain exercises
  • Elbow pain including tennis elbow
  • Keep moving conditions for home exercises

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has created a section of their website particularly for GP information on exercises for patients with free downloads and plenty of advice on a range of conditions including keeping health at work.

ShoulderDoc.co.uk – A website designed to provide information for patients and doctors on shoulder injuries.

Osteoporosis

The Royal Osteoporosis Society has developed a series of recommendations for exercise and physical activity for osteoporosis and bone health

Pain and Exercise

Understanding and managing pain: information for patients – The British Pain Society leaflet has a good description about pain and exercise p17-19, including a pain cycle diagram and very sensible explanations to help understand pain.

Parkinson’s Disease and Exercise

The Parkinson’s UK Website advice on exercise with links.

Pregnancy and Exercise

While there have been a range of guidelines from around the world, the last UK one was in 2006. The latest global guidelines is the Canadian one. 2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy 

UK Guidelines: Pregnancy and Physical Activity Chief Medical Officer Infographics.

Tommy’s Charity has excellent sensible advice on exercise in pregnancy.

Self Motivation for Exercise

This Girl Can is a national campaign developed by Sport England and partners to inspire women to move more and prove that judgement is a barrier which can be overcome.

Sitting and Exercise

Do you sit at a desk all day – The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has a useful set of exercises on a free pdf download for desk workers or even use yourself!

Get Britain Standing – The campaign to grow awareness and educate on the dangers of sedentary behaviour.

Walk Unlimited -The home site of the organisation behind Walk4life and Benefit from Activity. They have several useful websites on healthy lifestyle and a site of ‘Dr maps’ with examples of maps which have been created for GP surgeries, hospitals or businesses. Why not get walking maps around your health establishment for yourself, staff and patients.

Walking for Health – England’s network of walking schemes.

Paths for All – Scotland’s network of walking schemes.

Walk NI – Northern Ireland’s network of walks and groups.

Couch to 5k -The starting course from sedentary through to running with a 9 week course of training podcasts.

The Daily Mile  – Encourages school children to become active.

Parkrun – Organise free weekly 5km runs around the UK in parkland.

Sustrans – The cycle charity promoting cycling as a healthier, cleaner and cheaper mode of transport with plenty of advice and cycle routes available by a postcode search. Has the National Cycle Network on their site to access for routes near you.

The Activity Alliance – Organisation that supports and promotes sport for people with disabilities. Helps you find activities to suit the individual if you are disabled.

Be Active – Be Active is Anchor’s wellness and movement programme to support the older people living with us to take care of their overall health and wellbeing. Be Active offers a range of online resources including exercise routine videos, podcasts and tips on how to keep the mind active. We believe looking after your health and wellbeing should be easy and through Be Active will demonstrate how we can all make small changes to ensure this becomes part of our everyday lives and existing routines. Watch the workouts.