Physical activity referral programmes, who can do them, how they can help you and how they work.
We run physical activity and exercise programmes in partnership with local leisure centres and sports organisations for people with specific health conditions.
The aim of these programmes is for people with specific health conditions to achieve the Department of Health's recommended 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity a week. This is any physical activity that:
- increases your heart rate
- makes you breathe faster
- feel hotter
- be slightly breathless
Who can do the programmes
You can take part in these programmes if:
- you're over 16
- you're not very physically active, so you do less than 90 minutes of moderate physical activity per week
- you have a stable medical condition: see the list below
- your health professional thinks you'll benefit from regular physical exercise and has access to your medical notes
Your health professional can refer you onto the right programme or explain how to join one yourself.
What programmes you can do
Depending on your health condition, you could do the:
- Pulmonary rehabilitation for people with breathing difficulties like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Better Breathing for people with respiratory conditions, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), who have already done the pulmonary rehabilitation programme
- Cardiac Rehabilitation and Healthy Hearts for people who have, or have had angina, cardiac surgery, a stent fitted, coronary heart disease, are clinically stable, and have no medical reason not to exercise
- Energise cancer rehabilitation for people who have cancer or are recovering from cancer
- Parkinsons and stroke referral programme for people with Parkinsons or who have suffered a stroke
- Life Balance for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson's disease
- Staying Steady strength and balance classes to help build strength, walk steadily and lower your risk of falling
- Physical activity referral scheme for people with low to medium risk health conditions
The type of programme you could do will depend on if your condition is considered low, medium or high risk by your health professional.
Low risk health conditions
These include:
- being overweight, obese or underweight with no other medical conditions
- high normal blood pressure: between 130/85 to 139/89
- type 2 diabetes, diet controlled
- raised cholesterol
- stress or mild anxiety
- mild or moderate depression
- mild skeletal and muscular injuries
Medium risk health conditions
These include:
- blood pressure stage 2 and below: more than 160/100
- type 2 diabetes, medication controlled
- type 1 or type 2 diabetes, insulin dependent
- osteoarthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- Parkinsons disease
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- stroke or mini stroke, also called a transient ischaemic attack
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- fibromyalgia
- back pain
High risk health conditions
These include:
- a cardiac event that results in phase 3 or 4 cardiac rehabilitation
- cancer
- Excluded health conditions
- You wont be able to take part in the programmes if you have these health conditions:
- very high blood pressure, more than 160/100
- claudication, artery disease that causes leg cramps
- unstable angina
- acute heart failure
- acute respiratory disease
You also can't take part if you're pregnant or receiving palliative health care.
How the programmes can help you
Regular exercise and activity can:
- improve your mood
- help you manage your weight
- lower blood pressure
- increase your lung capacity
- reduce the risk of developing other health problems like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer or dementia
- help you stay mobile and continue to do daily tasks
You'll get the most benefits from the programme if you go at least twice a week.
How the programmes work
When you join a physical activity programme, you'll need to:
- attend your scheme regularly
- visit your health professional after 12 weeks to talk about the effect of the scheme on your health and physical activity levels and how you can keep active and exercising after you finish the scheme
- go to any health checks or follow ups if your instructor asks you to
- give us feedback about any changes to your condition or your experience doing the programme