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Keep active and healthy

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Keep active with a health condition

Living with a health condition can make life unpredictable at times, and can make moving more challenging at times. However, being physically active can improve your health and wellbeing and help manage symptoms of your condition. There are a lot of different ways to get active. Some can even be done from the comfort of your own home.

  • You can find information on local activities, including activities tailored for people living with a variety of health conditions, by visiting our Ways to Move More in Camden page
  • For advice, information and resources on getting active with a range of different health conditions you can also visit We Are Undefeatable.
     
  • Chartered Society of Physiotherapist have a range of resources for those living with long-term health conditions including a downloadable PDF that shares tips and advice. 
     
  • EXi is an evidence-based programme that provides a personalised 12-week exercise plan based on your activity levels and health conditions. Suitable for people new to exercise or those living with a long term health condition. This is a free service available on their website and also downloadable via the App Store or Google Play.
     
  • Stronger My Way provides a variety of resources and advice on how you can build strength in a safe and progressive way with a long-term health condition.


If you have a specific health condition the below resources share further detailed advice and information on how to live with the following health conditions: 

Arthritis / Muscular Pain

Cancer

  • Cancer Research have provided cancer patients with guidelines for exercising.
  • Macmillan SafeFit is a free remote service for anyone in the UK with suspicion of or confirmed diagnosis of cancer. Safefit put you in contact with a cancer exercise specialist.

COPD/Respiratory

  • British Lung Foundation offer online exercise videos to help those with a lung condition stay active and stay well.

Kidney Disease 

  • Kidney Care UK offer support and information for everyone with a kidney disease and their families. 
  • Beam provide live and pre-recorded online classes from renal physiotherapist for those living with kidney disease. 

Diabetes

  • Diabetes UK offer guides to managing your diabetes through exercise and physical activity as well as a live chat service to support those with diabetes to become more active. 

Mental Health

  • Mental Health Camden provide a collection of digital resources.
  • MIND provide practical tips and advice for those living with a mental health condition. For local activities and information visit MIND in Camden.

Stroke

  • LEGS (Local Exercise Groups for Stroke and Neurological Conditions) provides supported exercise groups led by physiotherapist for people who have had a stroke
  • Stroke Association provide resources on how to get moving after a stroke.
  • Different Strokes offer local support groups and online exercise classes for those who have suffered from a stroke. 

Parkinson's

Cardiovascular Conditions

Social Prescribing 

If you would like to speak to someone about local activities in Camden. You can call the Community Links Health Advocates on 0800 193 6067.
 

Get Active

If you have an underlying health condition you can speak to your local GP about the Camden Get Active service who offer one to one advice on how to become more active. 

To see how we use your personal data please see our Get Active Service Privacy Notice (PDF).

 

Cost of Living - Free and Low-Cost Sports and Physical Activities

Free and Low-Cost Sports and Physical Activities in Camden

It is very important that we are all active and have access to physical activity opportunities to stay healthy throughout the year.

A Free and Low-Cost physical activity guide has been created to help direct you to places and provide information of services within Camden where you can be active and exercise with your family and friends or even by yourself. 

Within the activity guide there are activities available for:

  • Children and Young People
  • Families
  • Older Adults
  • People with Disabilities 
  • Women and Girls 
  • Indoor / Outdoor activities 

Please view Camden's Free and Low-Cost Sports and Physical Activity Guide.


For further information about Free and Low Cost activities please contact: [email protected]

Ways To Move in Camden

Ways to Move in Camden is a resource created for healthcare professionals, social prescribers and residents themselves, and provides information about how to get active in Camden. This resource has information on general local activities as well as more targeted activities for older people, people living with health conditions, disabled people and more. We’ve pulled together lots of local as well as national information to help you find resources, websites and organisations that can help you find appropriate activities that work for you or the people you work with.  

Ways to Move in Camden Resource  (PDF)

Ways to Move in Camden Resource (printable version)  (PDF)

We’ll be continuing to update this resource to make sure it’s up-to-date with the latest information and activities. You’ll notice a version date on the first page of the resource which will show you when the resource was last updated.  

If you have any suggestions for the resource, please contact the Active Living Team .

Adult Weight Management Service (More Life)

Adult weight management service 

For Camden and Islington residents (or those registered with a GP in either borough), the service will be delivered in person at local community venues and online. It will be open to self-referral and professional referral. 

Lasting 12 weeks, the programme will take a psychologically-informed and evidence-based approach to weight management. 

Delivered at local community venues, in person and also online. 

For more information and to self-refer please visit the MoreLife website or call 0333 222 1333

Benefits of physical activity

Whether you’d like to try something completely different, or do more of the active things you’re already enjoying, the step-by-step guide can help you to reach your recommended 150 minutes of active minutes per week.

You can include physical activity with things you’re already doing in your daily routine. We have some handy hints to help you be more active at home, work or study; in your free time or while you’re travelling.  

We also deliver a range of activities to support you in being more active.

Benefits of physical activity

Physical activity is the miracle cure we’ve always had, but for too long we’ve neglected to take our recommended dose. Whatever your age, there's strong scientific evidence that

  • being physically active can help you lead a healthier and happier life.
  • People who do regular physical activity have a lower risk of many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
  • Research shows that physical activity can also boost self-esteem, mood, sleep quality and energy, as well as reducing your risk of stress, depression and dementia.

There is an overwhelming amount of evidence that supports the health benefits of being physically active.

Research has shown that people who regularly take part in physical activity have:

  • up to a 35% lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke 
  • up to a 50% lower risk of type 2 diabetes 
  • up to a 50% lower risk of colon cancer 
  • up to a 20% lower risk of breast cancer 
  • a 30% lower risk of early death 
  • up to an 83% lower risk of osteoarthritis 
  • up to a 68% lower risk of hip fracture 
  • a 30% lower risk of falls (among older adults) 
  • up to a 30% lower risk of depression 
  • up to a 30% lower risk of dementia.

Finding your activities

Get Active London Sport

London Sport have created Get Active, an activity finder to help you access free and low-cost activities in your local area or from home.
Simply enter your postcode into the search box to see the closest activities in your area and for other useful resources.

Finding Activities in Camden

  • Ways to Move More in Camden shares information on how to keep active in Camden with home based exercise resources, activity finders, apps and other helpful tips.
  • Find all the fun and favourite activities for older adults near you using our Camden Physical Activity Map
  • Find inspiring stories about how your Camden residents like you, are moving more. Locate all the activities and places to be active close to you with We Can Move
  • Get involved in regular activity with your friends and family in your area using Play Finder. Find a venue and book a session in a gym, sports hall or a sports pitch for you and your friends to have fun and stay active.

Fun Ways to Stay Active Together

  • Camden has ten  Outdoor Gyms for you as well as your friends and family. A fun and different way to enjoy exercising for free, whilst getting the fresh air you need.
  • Wellbeing walks in Camden are free to attend and available all through the week. Get involved staying healthy by walking around Camden, meeting new friends and exploring your local area.  

Stay Active Whilst at Home

  • Camden Active at Home Booklet has been made to support older people and those who are shielded to stay active and healthy at home.
  • Sports England have provided information on some good ways you can stay active and fit whilst at home.
  • Get involved with free daily fun online activities to help keep you healthy with Couch to Fitness . List of videos and online support to help boost your motivation.  

Tips and Ways to Stay Active

  • Find inspiring stories about how your Camden residents like you, are moving more. Locate all the activities and places to be active close to you with We Can Move .
  • How to stay happy, healthy and aiming to be the best person you can be? One You provides helpful information on how you can get into good daily practices to improve your lifestyle.

Visit live sport events

Be inspired by watching top-class sport and seeing elite international athletes performing around London with SportonSpec. An opportunity to book and visit the sporting events that are taking place in and around the city. 

Home Based Exercises

  • Sports England have provided information on some good ways you can stay active and fit whilst at home
  • The British Heart Foundation have provided some useful information on how you can ​​​​​​ stay active home
  • London Youth have shared a list of fun ways you can adapt your home to exercise  by yourself or with your family
  • The NHS has some useful fitness/exercise videos online
  • The Better App can be used free to access Exercise from Home and Virtual Fitness Classes. Download the App and access various exercise programmes for different age groups and abilities - access code is BETTERFREE.

Some of our instructor's recommendations include the following apps. They are free to use and offer exercise guides, workout routines and virtual exercise sessions:

  • Nike Training Club 
  • FitOn 
  • Freeletics 
  • Johnson & Johnson 7-minute workouts
  • Fitbit Coach
  • MyFitnessPal (for nutrition tracking)
  • Runtastic 

Disclaimer:

The information provided is for general purposes only and is provided in good faith, however we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding any information on this page. If you engage in any of the exercise activities/advice given, you agree to do so at your own risk and are voluntarily participating in these activities.  

Keeping Active

Keep Active and Healthy in Your Free Time

Your free time is there for things you really like doing. Are there any ways you could add physical movement to the activities you already enjoy?

For example:

  • Walk to meet your family and friends rather than take public transport or drive
  • Add some bodyweight exercise like squats, stretches or star jumps while the TV ads play or whilst the food is cooking
  • Jog or walk whilst listening to your favourite podcast

You could also try something new. You could use your time to take part in a structured sport or exercise class and let the coach or instructor take care of all of the planning.

View the following resources to see some of the available activities in the borough:

Keep Active and Healthy at Home

Moving our bodies and exercising is very important and should be a part of our daily lives. Sometimes it is easier or more comfortable to move more in the privacy of your own home.  

No need to go out or face bad weather, or feel embarrassed, you could even keep active in your pyjamas!

Making mini active challenges that the whole family can do is a way you can keep each other motivated to stay active at home.

For example:

  • You could do a daily stair walking challenge
  • Adding music when you’re doing household chores, dancing to your favourite music can pick up your heart rate, it can increase the effort you put into the chores and help the time pass quicker
  • You could challenge the kids or family to a dance-off  
  • Or you could do a sit to stand challenge before meal times.

View the following resources to see how you can keep active at home:

Keep Active and Healthy at Work or when Studying

Adding activity to places you go to every day is a great way to form active habits, clear your mind and refresh your energy levels.

Many of us spend a large part of our day sitting. Spending less time sitting down is one of the best things we can do for our health.

There are many organised sessions that take place before work, during lunch breaks or after work. Many of these organised sessions have facilities that have changing rooms and showers to help you get back to work easily.

If time is still an issue, here a few ways you can fit some more activity time around things you may already be doing:

  • Take the stairs rather than the lift to another floor
  • Use toilets and printers that are further away or on another floor
  • Try standing or walking meetings with your colleagues
  • Complete a chair based workout that you could do while at your desk or when taking a break from driving

Keep Active and Healthy when travelling

Cycling, walking, scootering, using public transport all help to fit active time in while getting to your destination. Getting from A to B is important, but is active travel something you could add to your daily routine?

Rather than putting up with traffic, petrol costs and trying to find parking. Remove all of those stresses and try a different way by active travel.  

For example:

  • Set yourself a daily or weekly goal in steps or minutes walking
  • Walk to work or halfway to work three times or more during the week
  • Take the stairs instead of the lift