Why is exercise so important? 

Exercise is good for lots of reasons. Exercise can help to:

• Keep muscles strong
• Reduce stiffness in joints
• Improve mood
• Improve joint pain
• Aid sleep
• Improve other health conditions
• Reduce blood pressure
• Keep at a healthy weight and avoid putting pressure on the joints
• Reduce stress

Even being a little bit more active can improve your health.

How can I start exercising and what sort of exercise should I do?

• Exercise doesn’t need to be a chore or take up a lot of time.
• Building up gradually and setting goals (see below) can make exercise more enjoyable.
• Walking, dancing and gardening all count as exercise.
• It’s often hard to see how you can fit exercise into your daily life, especially if you are in pain and feeling tired, but if you can manage to do a little bit more activity you can feel better in yourself.
• Any exercise is better than none. Try and focus on the things you can do.
• It may be easier for you to exercise in water where your joints can feel supported.
• Yoga, pilates and Tia Chi can also be helpful

For more information click on the websites below:

Our updated Keep Moving booklet is here! (versusarthritis.org)

Physical activity guidelines – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Easy Exercise Guide | The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (csp.org.uk)

Join the Movement | Sport England

Everyone Active – Leading Operator for Gym, Swim and Activities

Exercise – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking/about-group-walks.aspx

https://www.walkingforhealth.org.uk/walkfinder

About group walks – Ramblers

Get active – Better Health – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Strength exercises – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/running-and-aerobic-exercises/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/strength-and-flexibility-exercises/sitting-exercises/