Premier’s Active April Challenge

The Government wants to get you moving. Here’s why…

There are plenty of positives to be had from exercising. But it’s not always easy to find the time. So many things get in the way­—work, family life, and more work!­

But you should never underestimate the importance of regular exercise to your long-term health. The facts about the effect of physical inactivity are pretty stark. According to the Australian Government, it contributes to more than three million preventable deaths every year, and one third of Australia’s chronic disease burden in 2011 was due to coronary heart disease, dementia, diabetes, bowel cancer and stroke.

All these diseases have been closely linked to physical inactivity. Again, the Government states that this burden could be reduced by around 26 per cent if all Australians did an extra 30 minutes of brisk walking, at least 5 days per week. The national physical activity guidelines recommend that you should:

• Be active on most, preferably all, days every week.
• Accumulate 150 to 300 minutes (2 ½ to 5 hours) of moderate intensity physical activity or 75 to 150 minutes (1 ¼ to 2 ½ hours) of vigorous intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both moderate and vigorous activities, each week.
• Do muscle strengthening activities on at least 2 days each week.

Physical activity can also strengthen the body’s muscles and joints, creates a stronger cardiovascular system and regulates the body’s weight. The relationship between mental health and physical activity is one often less known to people. People suffering with chronic health conditions such as osteoarthritis, stroke and diabetes often also suffer from both depression and anxiety. With one in four people experiencing a mental illness at some point in their lives, physical activity is important for everyone’s overall wellbeing.

Physical activity across different age groups is important for different social, emotional and intellectual milestones. According to the Australian Government and the Department of Health being physically active have the following benefits in each age-group:

Early Years:

• Build strong bones and muscles
• Improve balance, movement and coordination skills
• Help maintain a healthy weight.

Children & Young People:

• Promotion of healthy growth and development
• Strong muscles and bones
• Help with management of anxiety and stress

Adults:

• Reduce risk of type 2 diabetes
• Reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
• Maintain blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels

Older Adults:

• Tones your body
• Reduce risk of type 2 diabetes
• Reduce risk of some cancers
• Reduces risk of stroke

(Source: Australian Department of Health)

So, if you needed any additional motivation to make time for exercise, look no further. The Premier’s Active April program might just provide the incentive for you to get started. It’s free and fun, and has workouts for every day of the week. You’ll be able to log your daily activity in the app, or online, track your progress and even create teams. You’ll also be able to discover a range of events and offers across Victoria that will help you, your team members or your family to stay healthy.

At Northern Districts Physiotherapy & Sports Clinic, we endorse the Premier’s Active April campaign and recommend everyone to give it a go. If you’d like to know more, give us a call on 02 9874 8410