Movement is Medicine

Written By Emma Murray

‘Get Your Daily Dose’

There are countless clinical practice guidelines that have grade A evidence to support exercise to manage & prevent an array of different conditions. But how often do you fall short of the national recommendation of 150mins of moderate intensity exercise per week? The Australian government released last year the campaign “Move It” with “Find your 30” to help promote being more physically active every day.
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Physical activity is healthy for all age groups – both endurance-based training and muscle-strengthening activity. We know physical activity for the adult population and older people helps to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease and depression. In addition, higher levels of physical activity have been associated with lowering the risk of some cancers. With research indicating that most health gains are made from those that are physically inactive to incorporating moderately vigorous activity into their daily schedule.
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According to the latest 2017 CPG for physical activity for adults and older people:
•Physical activity is good for you - the more, the better
•Engage in physical activity of moderate intensity for at least 150 minutes every week, spread over different days. The more frequent and vigorous the activity the better the health effects. However, make sure the starting level of activity meets for current fitness level!
•Perform strengthening exercise for your muscles and bones 2-3x a week.
•Balance exercise is also important to consider implementing, particularly for older individuals
•Avoid prolong periods of sitting down or inactivity. 
It is also recommended for children aged between 4 and 18 years of age to engage in a least one hour of moderately intensive exercise every day.
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Prevention is better than a cure. Find your 30minutes a day. Or at least 150minutes of moderate intensity activity per week. Motion is lotion. It’s time to ‘move it’!