Exercise is Medicine

We’ve heard it before but somehow the powerful preventative and healing effects of ‘moving’ get overshadowed by articles in the press about the next  “wonder drug” or funding problems in the NHS.  Finding time for at least 150 minutes p/week (20mins a day) of recommend exercise can be a struggle – but is something everyone should be aspiring to.   In 2003 the World Health Organisation estimated that every £1 invested in exercise advice and activities resulted in overall savings of £3.20 in future treatment costs.

The exercises you do don’t have to be anything too strenuous or expensive.   It is all relative to your current level of fitness but moderate intensity (making you slightly out of breath), whole body exercise i.e. brisk walking maybe all you need to do.  The attached 5 minute video is a great presentation of why exercise is so important!

Side Effects of Exercise

150mins aerobic exercises together with at least 2 sessions a week of strength, flexibility and balance exercises.

• 35-40% reduction in risk of heart related events
• 50% reduction in breast cancer death
• 50% reduction in bowel cancer death
• 42% reduction in diabetes related death
• 42% reduction in risk of developing diabetes
• A significant reduction in blood pressure (7mmHg)
• Higher bone densities in children and adolescents
• Slower reduction in bone density in menopausal women and elderly men
• Reduction in risk of falls in elderly populations
• Reduction in rates of depression
• Maintenance of muscle mass (see below)

Clinical Uses

For the prevention and treatment of most non-communicable diseases such as: heart disease, cancer, hypertension, stroke, obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, depression & anxiety problems, parkinsons disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis, asthma, chronic obstructive airways disease, musculoskeletal problems and for over 100 different diseases that commonly present to medical professionals.

Its not a panacea or miracle cure but it IS the closest thing we’ve got!

Lots of information from:  exercise-works.org  and exerciseismedicine.org

If you would like advice or if you have an injury that might be stopping you exercise please contact us here to see if we can help.