MW8 & MotionWare User Guide: Issue 1.2.1
Page 52
Definition
Physical activity includes everyday activity such as walking and cycling to get
from A to B, work-related activity, housework, DIY and gardening. It also
includes recreational activities such as working out in a gym, dancing, or
playing active games, as well as organised and competitive sport. (See the
Chief Medical Officers' [CMOs']
report.)
National recommendations
The CMOs' current recommendations for physical activity (see
UK physical
activity guidelines
) state that:
All adults aged 19 years and over should aim to be active daily.
Over a week, this should add up to at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of
moderate intensity
1
physical activity in bouts of 10 minutes or more.
Alternatively, comparable benefits can be achieved through 75 minutes of
vigorous intensity
2
activity spread across the week or combinations of
moderate and vigorous intensity activity.
All adults should also undertake physical activity to improve muscle strength
on at least 2 days a week.
They should minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary (sitting) for
extended periods.
Older adults (65 years and over) who are at risk of falls should incorporate
physical activity to improve balance and coordination on at least 2 days a
week.
Individual physical and mental capabilities should be considered when
interpreting the guidelines, but the key issue is that some activity is better
than no activity.
1
Moderate-intensity physical activity leads to faster breathing, increased heart
rate and feeling warmer. Moderate-intensity physical activity could include
walking at 3
–4 mph, and household tasks such as vacuum cleaning or
mowing the lawn.
2
Vigorous-intensity physical activity leads to very hard breathing, shortness of
breath, rapid heartbeat and should leave a person unable to maintain a
conversation comfortably. Vigorous-intensity activity could include running at
6
–8 mph, cycling at 12–14 mph or swimming slow crawl (50 yards per
minute).
NICE Public Health Guidance 44, 2013
