Physios encourage everyone to keep active throughout autumn

Swansea Bay physiotherapists are encouraging those who took part in the health board’s Active August campaign to keep on exercising into the autumn.

As part of this year’s Active August campaign the health board produced four short videos for social media, each featuring a different person explaining how they like to stay active – the videos highlighted touch rugby, walking, parkruns, and rounders.

The aim was to encourage others to share their ideas and help spark a wider conversation, inspiring more people to take get active.

Regular exercise can have a big impact on health – cutting the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and some cancers. It also helps improve our mood, helps reduce stress and can help with a better night's sleep.

The four videos, posted on Swansea Bay NHS Facebook page, attracted around 15,000 views in total.

Rebecca Fayle, Clinical Lead Physiotherapist, said: “We know exercise can help us maintain our strength and flexibility, which puts you in a better position later in life but exercise shouldn't just be in the summer, we need to make sure that that continues through into autumn and winter.

“It can be harder because the weather isn't so great, so it's good to find activities that you can do, despite the weather, that help keep you active right through the year and prevent you staying indoors and becoming inactive, as putting weight on can have a negative impact on your health and your joints.”

Rebecca said there are lots of opportunities for exercise, both inside and outside, and even suggested sea swimming was a good option at this time of year.

She said: “Autumn's a lovely time of year to visit the parks, they are often pretty with the autumn colours, so you can go for walks, and the sea gets warmer as the year goes on so you could take up swimming and enjoy the warmth of the sea – there are organised sea swimming groups on social media.

“Then there's also lots of classes in the community - things like tai chi, yoga, and Pilates, they are low level impact exercises.”

Mark Jones, aged 58 from Pontardawe, who kicked the campaign off by sharing his love of touch rugby said: “It was great to be asked to help the health board encourage others to be more active through explaining how touch rugby helps me.

“You always feel better after exercise, both physically, once you have recovered that is, and mentally, but the key is to keep going, don’t give up or you will lose the benefit of all the hard work you put in.”

Katy Goss (above), who championed rounders in her video, said: “You don't need to be sporty or fit to get started; every step and every bit of movement counts towards better physical and mental wellbeing.

“The hardest part is often taking that first step; being active doesn't have to be intimidating. Whether it's rounders, walking, rugby or another activity you enjoy, find something that makes you smile. Find something you enjoy, give it a go, and don't worry about being perfect.”