Exercise Advice for Patients
You can advise your patient on how they can increase their physical activity to improve their health.
The NHS recommend the following for adults aged 19–64 years in order to stay healthy:52
- At least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity such as cycling or fast walking every week, and
- strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).
OR
- 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity, such as running or a game of singles tennis every week, and
- strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).
OR
- A mix of moderate and vigorous aerobic activity every week. For example, two 30-minute runs plus 30 minutes of fast walking equates to 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity, and
- strength exercises on two or more days a week that work all the major muscles (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders and arms).
Physical activity doesn’t have to be hard work or time-consuming to be beneficial.
Moderate activity includes walking fast, water aerobics, riding a bike on level ground or with a few hills, doubles tennis, pushing a lawn mower, hiking, skateboarding, rollerblading, volleyball and basketball.52