MOVEment Pills

What’s next… For MOVEment Pills, for this space… and for you?

The main message of this toolkit is that linking physical activity to health is yet another driver to engage the average citizen in physical activity and sustain their motivation. The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest campaign, Every Move Counts, provides evidence and a slogan to assure people that small steps can make a big difference to their wellbeing: “Some physical activity is better than doing none. By becoming more active throughout the day in relatively simple ways, people can easily achieve the recommended activity levels.”

Micro-actions are an effective technique to introduce positive lifestyle changes that can grow as the person becomes more confident and feels better. This does not only apply to physical activity, but also to mental health and social wellbeing, as the Act. Belong. Commit. (ABC) initiative for mental health has shown in Australia and Denmark. So your role, as a MOVE Agent, is to share the possibilities and benefits of these micro-actions and you can use MOVEment Pills to attract attention to the cause and help it grow.

This keeping in mind that, while MOVEment Pills are a great attention-grabber, we as stakeholders in physical activity promotion need to work together on a holistic approach to health promotion as an alternative to a single “cure” or “wonder drug”. So, naturally, the next step for ISCA is to keep exploring the link between physical activity and broader wellbeing. Wellbeing is something that stretches beyond health in a traditional sense, so we will aim to draw more links between physical activity and wellbeing, including mental wellbeing, through this special series of healthenhancing physical activity (HEPA) toolkits, webinars and online learning courses.

When and how to seek further help.

MOVEment Pills alone cannot replace professional medical advice, and we should always remember to note this when doing this kind of promotion. Physical activity is not a single cure for all physical and mental ailments, so people should always “exercise” caution when starting a more vigorous exercise programme or seek advice if the feel discomfort when trying MOVEment Pills exercises.

People with pre-existing conditions should consult a medical professional before starting an exercise programme, but most MOVEment Pills exercises should be safe enough to try without the risk of over-exertion or injury.

Gradual introduction of exercise is essential for more sedentary patients – and every move does count towards better health and wellbeing.

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