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. 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.
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.
The We are Undefeatable website has some useful resources, advice and inspiration to help those with a health condition to get active
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.
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.
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, with sessions in Boston coming soon.
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.
Although it might be harder to keep moving exercise can:
Find more advice and support to be physically active with arthritis on the Versus Arthritis website. Visit site
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.
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
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.
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
Moving more can:
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.
The British Heart Foundation have a range of information and online exercise videos to support you to be more active, including chair-based exercises. Visit website
They also have advice on getting active again following a heart attack or heart surgery. Visit website
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:
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Lincolnshire’s Long Covid Hub provides general information and support for
families, children, young people, health care professionals, and workplaces.
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.
