Moving Medicine
Learn more about our collaborative work to get people moving more.
Moving Medicine
A movement FOR movement specifically designed to help healthcare professionals integrate physical activity conversations into routine clinical care.
Why should patients move more in a healthcare setting?
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Prevent Hospital Acquired Deconditioning
Hospital associated deconditioning leads to adverse outcomes;
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Poor functional ability below that of pre-hospital admission
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Increased risk of activity of daily living disability
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Decline in muscle strength
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Decline in muscle mass
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Decline in cognitive function
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Older people with deconditioning have higher rates of re-admission and lower rates of community discharge.
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Positively impacts on Patient Outcomes
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The impact of physical inactivity during hospitalisation is well documented. It has shown to be an independent predictor of negative outcomes for older patients, which leads to longer stays and a reduction in quality of life.
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Longer hospital stays results in increased risk of complications such as hospital acquired infections, and prolonged mobilisation can lead to deep vein thrombosis formation, and eventually pulmonary emboli.
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Hospital staff are trusted
Healthcare professionals have always been considered well placed to provide physical activity advice to patients. 25% of patients would be more active if advised by a healthcare professional. Patients also trust the advice of hospital healthcare professionals:
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93% of people trust advice from hospital doctors
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91% of people would accept advice from hospital doctors
Therefore, hospital staff are well placed to provide positive change to patients and even brief education about physical activity can make huge changes.
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Physical Activity Clinical Champions (PACC)
Physical Activity Clinical Champions is an initiative that offers FREE clinician to clinician training to professionals working in the health sector. This supports them to improve patient care and outcomes.
The aim of this training is to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of practicing HCPs, enabling them to more effectively incorporate physical activity within their clinical care.
Watch the video and find out more about PACC here.
Active Hospitals
Active Hospitals aims to change the physical activity culture within hospitals to encourage patients to move more.
As hospital staff drive and deliver patient care, they play an important role in helping hospitals to become environments which help patients to become more active.
Additional resources
Explore these additional resources to reduce inactivity in your health or care setting.
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Active Practice Charter – Designed through the Royal College of General Practitioners. Watch the video to find out more.
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End PJ Paralysis - #EndPJparalysis has become a global movement embraced by nurses, therapists and medical colleagues. Its aim is to value patients’ time and help more people to live the fullest lives possible by reducing immobility, muscle deconditioning, and dependency at the same time as protecting cognitive function, social interaction and dignity.
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We Are Undefeatable – A resource for patients and people in the community to explore how to move more and live well with their long term health condition.
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