If you live with one or more health conditions, being active might feel out of reach. You might be worried about making things worse or hurting yourself. But being active can actually help you feel better and make you stronger.
“My condition affects how active I can be and my anxiety sometimes affects my daily living[…] I feel being active helps my mental health and makes me more motivated.”
– Community member, Stoke on Trent
Regular activity can help stop some health conditions from getting worse, lower your chance of problems with your heart, lungs and conditions like arthritis, bring down your blood pressure and help you feel healthier and happier.
Remember, you're not alone
More than half of adults in Staffordshire have a long-term health condition, disability, or illness. Discover how just a small amount of activity can improve your mental health.
Can being active make things worse?
No. If you make sure you do things safely, getting active is usually not a problem – and comes with lots of benefits! However, always speak to your doctor before making any big changes. Building up slowly is important for staying safe and avoiding injuries.
“I enjoy the feeling of looking after myself and doing something for me.”
– Community member, Stoke on Trent
Regular activity can help you to:
🤸 Move more easily and with less pain
🧘🏽 Feel calmer and more focused
😴 Sleep better
😋 Digest food more easily
⚡ Feel stronger and more confident
🤍 Have more patience and energy for others
How do I get started?
If you’re living with health conditions and are worried about getting more active, there are simple things you can do to build your confidence and help you feel more comfortable.
Make an appointment to see your doctor and let them know you’d like to get more active. They’ll be able to give you advice on the best types of activity for you and reassure you about what’s safe for you to do.
There’s lots of information available about which activities work best for different health conditions. For example, light yoga, walking and swimming are recommended for people living with conditions like arthritis, chronic pain, fatigue or high blood pressure. These activities are gentle on joints, ease stiffness and tension, and get your body moving without overdoing it.
Take things a step at a time. Being active doesn’t have to mean going to the gym or training for half marathons. It can be as simple as doing some stretches in the living room, going for a short walk or joining a class which focuses on gentle movement. It’s important to build up over time, be safe and find what works for you.
The key is getting active regularly, even if it’s just a little bit of movement. Remember, even when you’re feeling uncertain or low on energy, a small amount of movement can ease stiffness, lift your mood and help improve your mobility and strength. The more often you get active, the easier day to day tasks and activities will become.
Some days will be harder than others – and that’s okay. Just doing a little when you can still counts.
What if I can’t do much right now?
That’s ok. Every bit of movement helps, even if it’s small. You could:
✅ Stretch your arms while watching TV
✅ Do seated leg lifts
✅ Walk a few steps and rest
✅ Take deep breaths with gentle movement
You don’t have to do it all at once – just do what you can. It all adds up.
You’re not your diagnosis
Health conditions can have a big impact on how you live your day to day life. But you are not your diagnosis and you deserve to be healthy and happy.
Getting more active can make a big difference to your health and how you feel about yourself – living with a health condition doesn’t mean you have to miss out.
It’s completely normal to feel nervous about trying a new activity – especially when you’re managing health conditions at the same time. Just remember, it’s ok to build up slowly. Taking steps like speaking to your doctor and starting with a small amount of movement will help grow your confidence – and help you get the benefits of being active.