Simple ways to keep active during the coronavirus pandemic

Many people are having to spend more time at home than they normally would. This can make it harder to stay active and have an effect on our motivation. But we’ve put some exercises together, with the help of Stephen Macconville, fitness lead at Nuffield Health, that you can do at home.

Whether you enjoyed going to the gym or attending an exercise class, you stayed active by going to the shops or running around after the grandchildren or you’re not as active as you once were, these activites are suitable for all abilities. What’s important is that while you’re at home, you continue to do what you can. 

According to Stephen, ‘it is recommended older people try to do two types of physical activity each week to stay healthy or to improve health. These are aerobic exercise well known for its cardiovascular benefits and strength (also known as resistance) exercises, which help build muscle to maintain balance and stability.’

Together with Nuffield Health, we’ve put together some strength and aerobic exercises below and instructions on how to do them. Whatever your fitness level, do what you can at home to stay as fit, active and independent as possible. 

Chair squats (sit to stand)

To help strengthen the muscles of the lower body, bones and joints

1. Stand in front of a chair with your feet as far apart as your hips
2. Bend your knees while keeping your shoulders and chest upright
3. Lower your bottom slowly (4 seconds) so you sit down
4. Then push your body back up to return to a standing position (2-4 seconds)
5. Try to avoid using your hands
6. Aim to perform these 5-10 times or for a duration of 20-60 seconds. Then, take a rest for 40-60 seconds
7. Repeat this action 2-5 times.
8. If you don’t feel like you can do this exercise in full, just try bending your legs a little until you feel you can go further. Then work towards the full activity. 

The Stork (single leg stands)

To improve balance and bone strength

1. Stand facing a non-moveable chair or surface for support if you need it
2. Warm up with a slow march for 1 minute, gradually raising your knees higher
3. With your arms at your side, slowly lift your left foot and balance on your right foot for 10 seconds
4. Slowly lower your left foot and repeat with your right foot
5. Aim to build up the duration by 5 seconds each time as you feel more comfortable
6. To increase difficulty, try raising your hand above your head on the same side or slowly swinging your arms like you’re running
7. Repeat on both legs 3-5 times each.

Wall snow angels

To improve mobility, posture and strength

1. Stand with your upper back, head, bum and heels against the wall
2. Start with your hands out to the side with your palms facing outwards
3. Whilst maintaining contact with the wall, slowly raise your hands above your head, stretching as wide and as high as possible
4. Slowly return to your starting position and then repeat – aim to complete 5-10 times
5. Perform this 2-3 times, take a break for 40-60 seconds before repeating again.

Rotations

To improve upper body and back mobility

1. Holding a stick or broom horizontally behind your head, stand with your feet hip width apart and your knees slightly bent
2. If you don’t have a broom, put your hands on your shoulders keeping your arms at 90 degrees
3. Keeping the broom straight, turn to your right as far as comfortable, twisting through your hips
4. Then slowly turn to the other side, building up your range of movement
5. Repeat 10-20 times
6. Perform this 2-5 times, take a break for 40-60 seconds before repeating again.

Wall push-ups

To maintain upper body strength and bone mineral density

1. Stand at arm’s length in front of a wall which is safe
2. Lean forward slightly and put your palms flat on the wall at shoulder height
3. If you are just starting out have your feet closer to the wall
4. If you want more of a challenge have your feet further back from the wall
5. Keep your feet planted as you slowly bring your body towards the wall, aiming to keep your body straight
6. Gently push yourself back so that your arms are straight again
7. Aim for 5-10 slow repetitions
8. Perform this 2-5 times, take a break for 40-60 seconds before repeating again.

Overhead lifts

Stair stepping

To improve coordination, aerobic fitness for heart health and lower body strength

1. Stand in front of a staircase or step and step up with your right foot, then up with your left
2. Then step back down with your right, then back down with your left. Try to repeat 10 times or for a period of 20-60 seconds
3. Take a rest before changing the leading foot
4. If you need a little support, hold on gently to the railing, or gently touch the wall with your finger tip
5. If this is comfortable, to increase difficulty, hold some weight in each hand such as a bottle of water
6. Try to perform these 2-5 times, take a break for 40-60 seconds before repeating again.

Of course, exercise is not only good for your physical health, but your mental health too

Stephen comments, ‘It’s important to use our muscles regularly to maintain bone strength, muscle strength, coordination, keep the heart healthy and improve sleep. But there are many other important benefits to exercising, such as building self-confidence and good emotional wellbeing.’