Sports and activities | Connect to Support

Physical activity is vital for everyone, but especially for older people and people with a disability. It can help prevent or manage many chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and depression. It can also improve mobility, balance, strength, and mental health. However, many older people and people with a disability face barriers to being physically active, such as lack of access, motivation, confidence, or support. This document will explore the benefits of an active lifestyle for these groups, and provide some examples of organisations in the UK and Kent that can help them achieve their goals.

The Benefits of an Active Lifestyle

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical activity is defined as "any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure". This can include a wide range of activities, such as walking, cycling, gardening, dancing, swimming, or playing sports. The WHO recommends that older adults (aged 65 and above) should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of both, per week. They should also do muscle-strengthening activities at least twice a week, and activities that enhance balance and prevent falls on three or more days a week. For people with a disability, the WHO advises that they should follow the same guidelines as much as their condition allows, and consult with their health care provider to tailor their exercise plan to their specific needs and abilities.

The benefits of an active lifestyle for older people and people with a disability are numerous and well-documented. Some of the main benefits are:

Reducing the risk of developing or worsening chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, osteoporosis, and some cancers.
Improving physical function, such as mobility, balance, coordination, flexibility, and endurance.
Preventing or delaying cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer's disease.
Enhancing mental health, mood, self-esteem, and social interaction.
Increasing independence, autonomy, and quality of life.
Lowering health care costs and reducing the need for medication.

There are many ways for everyone to enjoy an active lifestyle. Are you disabled or are you supporting disabled friends, family or clients to find new ways to be active? Getting fit can help improve certain physical functions to help with daily life, reduce the chance of obesity and provide general health and mental wellbeing. Whatever level of physical ability, there are options that are right for everyone.

Further information and resources

Their vision is ‘more people, more active, more often’.

Their mission is to ‘change and improve lives through sport and physical activity’.

They aim to increase participation in sport and physical activity and promote the benefits of a healthy lifestyle for all of Kent's 1.9 million residents, especially among under-represented groups, including women, older people, people living with a disability or long term health condition, ethnically diverse communities and people from lower socio-economic groups.

To find out more information please visit the Active Kent website.

Activity Alliance is the leading voice for disabled people in sport and activity. Established in 1998 as a national charity, they were previously known as the English Federation of Disability Sport.

Disabled people participate in sport and activity less than non-disabled people and are also twice as likely to be inactive. We call this the fairness gap, and they aim to close this gap within a generation by focusing on these two key goals:

Embedding inclusive practice into organisations
Changing attitudes towards disabled people in sport and activity

Visit the Activity Alliance website for more information

Disability Rights UK is the UK’s leading organisation led by, run by, and working for Disabled people.

They work with Disabled People’s Organisations and Government across the UK to influence regional and national change for better rights, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities for Disabled people.

Their vision is to create a society where Disabled people have equal power, rights and equality of opportunity.

Their mission is to campaign for the rights of all Disabled people to be included in every aspect of life. They challenge policy makers, institutions and individuals to remove any barriers that exist.

Disability Rights UK | We are disabled people leading change