Getting Active

For those with a Health Condition

When you’re managing a long-term health condition, it can be more difficult to get active. However small increases in your level of physical activity can have a positive effect on your health and wellbeing and may help you to manage your symptoms.

Being active is about finding what works well for you. That might mean starting small and growing your levels gradually.

Getting Started

Being active is about finding what works well for you. That might mean starting small and growing your levels gradually. Anything that gets you moving will be beneficial for your health. This could be incorporating more movement into your daily routine, with everyday activities such as housework or walking to the shop.  Or it might be you feel able to do a more energetic activity such as swimming, cycling or running. However you choose to move, it’s best to find something you enjoy as you’re more likely to keep it up.

It’s safer for people with long-term conditions to be physically active.

Find out how the benefits outweigh the risks. Regular physical activity, in combination with standard medical care, has an important role in the management and prevention of many long-term conditions.

Ways to Get Active With A Health Condition

Follow the links below for condition specific advice and information on getting active and local programmes available in Lincolnshire.

Use our activity finder to search for other organised activities near you. Try using the Activities for Beginner’s search.

For those living with cancer being physically active can have many benefits.

  • Reduce risk of cancer recurrence – being active during and after cancer treatment can reduce the risk of recurrence in some cancers. It can also reduce the risk of developing other long-term conditions.
  • Reduce side effects – being active during and after cancer treatment can reduce some side effects of cancer and cancer treatment. Side effects activity helps with include fatigue, depression, weight gain, blood clots, hot flushes, night sweats and nerve damage.
  • Prevent decline in physical ability – being active during cancer treatment can prevent a decline in physical ability without increasing fatigue levels.
  • Recover physical ability – being active after cancer treatment helps patients recover physical ability.
  • Maintain independence – in cases of advanced cancer physical activity can help patients maintain independence and well-being.

Macmillan have advice and guidance on getting active for anyone who has had cancer or has had treatment for cancer and is thinking about becoming more physically active, including a downloadable booklet.

Download the booklet

For more advice and resources at:
We Are Undefeatable — Macmillan Resources

Local Programmes & Support

Lincolnshire East Coast Cancer Factsheet

Co-produced with Mablethorpe Cancer Co-production group this factsheet signposts to local groups and support for those living with Cancer on Lincolnshire’s East Coast area. Download the factsheet

Fighting Fit
Fighting Fit is a programme supporting people living with or recovering from cancer in Lincolnshire. It is designed to help you to maintain or increase physical activity levels at a pace that suits you and support you in the fight against cancer and long-term health conditions. There are currently sessions in Lincoln, Mablethorpe and Gainsborough, Boston and Grantham.

Find Out More

5K Your Way
A community based initiative to encourage those living with and beyond cancer, families, friends and those working in cancer services to walk, jog, run, cheer or volunteer at a local 5K Your Way parkrun on the last Saturday of every month. Currently in Lincolnshire 5K Your Way takes place at Lincoln parkrun at Boultham park, and Witham Way Country Park Boston.

Find out More

It can be hard to keep moving when you have arthritis but staying as active as possible can reduce your pain and the symptoms of your condition, and help you to stay independent.

Although it might be harder to keep moving exercise can:

  • Reduce your pain
  • improve your muscle strength which keeps your joints strong and well-supported
  • reduce stiffness in your joints
  • help your balance
  • improve energy levels and feelings of tiredness
  • help you manage your weight
  • boost your mood.

Find more advice and support to be physically active with arthritis on the Versus Arthritis website. Visit site

If you have Parkinsons, symptoms such as fatigue, pain and rigidity may make exercise more difficult or be off-putting.

However, research shows that exercise can slow the progression of your symptoms and help control and manage your symptoms.

Parkinsons UK have advice, guidance and case studies to show how to get started with physical activity, and some of the best exercises you can do to help control and manage your condition.

Visit website

 

Local Programmes

Dance for Parkinson’s

The Hub, Sleaford

A relaxed dance class focuses on posture, strength, co-ordination and balance for people living with Parkinson’s, their family and carers. Find out more contact: dance@hub-sleaford.org.uk

Classes are also currently available online Find Out More

Exercise and physical activity may bring many benefits for people with Dementia.

As well as having a positive effect on physical wellbeing, physical activity can also help people to remain fit and supple enough to perform daily activities, improve cognition, and provide valuable opportunities for social interaction.

Find out more about the benefit of exercise for Dementia, and how to support someone living with Dementia to be more active on the Alzheimer’s Society’s website.

Local Programmes

Movement for Memory, Dementia Café
Tonic Health, Spalding

Every Wednesday at Tonic Health 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Exercise (yoga, Tai Chi, gentle movement exercise – sessions on rotation each week) – The Hall

Find Out More

There are many benefits of being active when you have type 1, type 2 or other types diabetes.

Moving more can: 

  • help the body use insulin better by increasing insulin sensitivity 
  • help you look after your blood pressure, because high blood pressure means you’re more at risk of diabetes complications 
  • help to improve cholesterol (blood fats) to help protect against problems like heart disease  
  • help you lose weight if you need to, and keep the weight off after you’ve lost it 
  • give you energy and help you sleep 
  • help your joints and flexibility 
  • help your mind as well as your body – exercise releases endorphins, which you could think of as happy hormones. Being active is proven to reduce stress levels and improve low mood.   
  • help people with type 2 diabetes improve their HbA1c. In some cases, this can help people with the condition go into remission.  

Find more advice and guidance on being active with diabetes on the Diabetes UK website. Visit Site

Heart Conditions

Heart and circulatory diseases kill 1 in 4 people in the UK. Not being active enough is one of the reasons people get heart and circulatory diseases like heart attack and stroke.

Regular moderate-intensity physical activity reduces your risk of coronary heart disease and many other conditions. It can also help manage risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Find out more about being active to keep your heart healthy and advice on exercising if you have an existing heart condition on our Getting Active for Heart Health page.

For anyone living with asthma or a long-term lung condition, being active can be more challenging.

Take a look at the links below for advice and guidance that can help people with asthma or long-term lung conditions to get active in a way that works for them.

Asthma UK

The benefits of physical activity for people with asthma include:

  • Raising your heart rate regularly boosts your lung power, increasing stamina and reducing breathlessness
  • It supports your immune system and helps fight colds and viruses – a major trigger for over 80% of people with asthma
  • Activity helps you stay a healthy weight, in turn cutting your risk of an asthma attack
  • It releases ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your brain – studies show that if you’re stressed, or depressed, you’re at higher risk of asthma symptoms

Find useful advice and suggestions on how to get active with asthma on the Asthma UK website.

British Lung Foundation 

The British Lung Foundation has put together a series of exercise videos aimed at those living with long term lung conditions.
Visit Website

Local Programmes

Happy Breathers COPD clinic Spalding

The Happy Breathers COPD community clinic is designed to improve the wellbeing of people living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and their carers by reducing social isolation and providing a range of care and support in a non-clinical community setting.

Find Out More

Getting Active if you have Long-Covid might seem out of reach. However Gentle exercise at your own pace can be beneficial for your recovery, and it is important to get back to previous levels of activity, or be more active than you are right now. Take a look at the below advice to help support you with physical activity.

Your Covid Recovery (NHS)

Covid Recovery (NHS) states that after a period of illness and inactivity
muscles will be weaker than normal, and you will be less fit than you were. It
is important to get back to previous levels of activity or aim to be more
active than you are right now. It is important to take
things slowly, not to rush back, and to remember that on days where you feel
worse to wait until you feel better again. If you have Long Covid it will be
important to pace your activity and be mindful that you will experience
fatigue.

Visit website

Moving Medicine

Moving Medicine has useful guides for recovery including a bed exercise programme,
standing exercise programme and an active recovery workbook to  help with
the planning and management of your own return to health.

Visit website

Lincolnshire Long-Covid Hub

Lincolnshire’s Long Covid Hub provides general information and support for
families, children, young people, health care professionals, and workplaces.

Visit website

Advice for Activity Providers

Active Lincolnshire have developed a guidance course in partnership with NHS and other partners on Long-Covid to increase awareness for activity providers on how to provide a supportive environment for people to be active whilst managing their illness. Share with your club, coach, instructor or leisure centre about how they can access the guidance.

Visit website

Getting Started

Being active is about finding what works well for you. That might mean starting small and growing your levels gradually. Anything that gets you moving will be beneficial for your health. This could be incorporating more movement into your daily routine, with everyday activities such as housework or walking to the shop.  Or it might be you feel able to do a more energetic activity such as swimming, cycling or running. However you choose to move, it’s best to find something you enjoy as you’re more likely to keep it up.

Team Sports

Getting active with others as part of a team sport, fitness class or group, can be a fantastic way to improve your wellbeing as well as meeting new people.

If you’re worried about your fitness levels, look out for sessions that are suitable for beginners, and speak to the class leader/ instructor before you start. You might also be able to find specific classes aimed at people with certain health conditions that would be more tailored to you. Walking Sports are gentler way to enjoy being active as part of a team.

We are Undefeatable

The We are Undefeatable website has some useful resources, advice and inspiration to help those with a health condition to get active

Five in Five Home Workouts

Get active at home with Five in Five, 5 customisable mini workouts, and Make Your Move home workout videos with We Are Undefeatable.

Short Countryside Walks For All

Enjoy getting active outdoors in some of the most picturesque spots in Lincolnshire.

These routes contain access information, such as path surfaces, gradients, seats, steps and gates.