National physical activity resources

National Physical Activity Pathway

NHS National Physical Activity Pathway (NPAP) provides a framework through which health and social care professionals can encourage and enable people in their care to be more active. The pathway is designed to help health and social care professions have an informed discussion about physical activity, Using the UK CMOs’ Physical Activity Guidelines,  and signpost or refer people to the right service for them. NPAP is an evidenced based intervention that is both clinically and economically effective and can be integrated into existing clinical pathways and or routine general consultations.

Active Wards

This news article is about how wards in eight sites across NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde encouraged people in hospital to be more active. They used graphics as a visual aid to encourage patients to move more, to get out of bed, and to build muscle strength while in hospital.

Broons deconditioning resource

This NHS Highland news story tells you how they worked with the team behind The Broons' to create an educational 'deconditioning' comic strip. You can find out about what was involved and there is a link to download the comic strip.

End PJ Paralysis

End PJ paralysis is a global initiative that health and care professionals can join. The website has information for care professionals about helping people reduce immobility, muscle deconditioning, and dependency as well as protecting cognitive function, social interaction and dignity.

Care About Physical Activity

Care About Physical Activity Programme (CAPA) helps care services find innovative ways to support each person experiencing care to build physical activity, meaning, purpose, and joy into their daily life. The CAPA programme complements the scrutiny and improvement work of care inspectors who support services to provide high quality care and support that is right for each person.

Keeping active in later life

This guide explains why physical activity is important, with ideas for getting started.

The life curve

This website is designed to help people be happier and healthier for longer. It has ideas for simple changes to routines and lifestyles for ageing well.

Up and about

This Public Health Scotland falls prevention resource has information on looking after your feet, checking your home for hazards, telling someone if you have fallen, managing your medication, keeping active, looking after your eyes and looking after your hearing. It also provides information on how to get up safely from a fall.

Up and about (large print version)

This is the large print version of the Public Health Scotland falls prevention resource.

Encourage and enabling physical activity

Online learning module which provides training for health and social care professionals on the benefits of physical activity. Provides information on physical activity pathways and how to encourage and enable people within your care to be more active.

Physical activity for older people

Health Education England have developed an online module for health care professionals that talks about the benefits of physical activity for older people. There is a 5 minute brief information option or a longer version of 30 minutes which goes into more detail about these benefits, healthcare professionals role and what advice you can give to people in your care. Free learning resource that requires an account to access.

Moving medicine

Online resource to help healthcare professionals integrate physical activity conversations into routine clinical care. Specific resources for falls and frailty, hospital associated deconditioning and other specific health conditions that may lead to frailty.

Movement for Health

This is the website for the Movement for Health coalition. Movement for Health is a coalition of health charities, organisations, and academic institutions with an aim to encourage people in Scotland with long term health conditions to become more active. There is tools and resources section split in to eight themes: active health and social care, active travel, active places and spaces, communications and public education, active workplaces, active learning, active systems, and sport and active recreation.

Physical activity guidelines: adults and older adults

The physical activity guidelines issued by the four Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The UK CMOs draw upon global evidence to present guidelines for different age groups, covering the volume, duration, frequency and type of physical activity required across the life course to achieve health benefits.

Physical activity guidelines: disabled adults

This UK government webpage has an infographic about the health benefits of physical activity for for adults and older adults.

Supporting older people to live active, healthy lives

This TURAS learning programme was developed by Professor Dawn Skelton at Glasgow Caledonian University as part of the Care about Physical Activity (CAPA) programme. There are six modules to complete and you will need to log in, or create, a TURAS account to complete it.

Fun active games for groups

This Age Scotland webpage has information about group group games for older people. There are examples of games for use with groups as well as information about upcoming workshops.