Did you know that regular physical activity is a well-established protective factor in the prevention and treatment of a number of chronic diseases? Getting active can keep you healthier, independent, and help manage your health and symptoms.
Speak to your health care provider prior to beginning a new physical activity routine, especially if you have not been previously active. Listen and respect your body’s cues:
- If you are feeling exhausted or experiencing pain, slow down or stop what you’re doing
- Start small, increase gradually, and take breaks often
Arthritis
- Flourish - Arthritis Society
- Modifying activities for osteoarthritis (PDF) - Arthritis Society
- Osteoarthritis: Exercising with arthritis - HealthLink BC
- Role of exercise in arthritis management - John Hopkins Arthritis Center
- The right exercise mix - Arthritis Society
- Top 10 arthritis exercises (PDF) - Arthritis Society
Asthma
- Exercising and asthma - Asthma Society of Canada
- Breathe easy: A guide for being active and healthy with asthma (PDF) - Asthma Society of Canada
Cancer
- Effects of exercise on health-related outcomes in those with cancer (PDF) - Exercise is Medicine (EIM) and American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
- Exercise support - BC Cancer
- Living with cancer: Being active - Canadian Cancer Society
- Physical activity and cancer in Canada - Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
Chronic pain
- Gentle movement at home - Pain BC
Dementia
- Being active at home: A resource for people living with dementia and their care partners - Healthy Aging Collaborative Online Resources and Education (CORE) BC
Diabetes
- Exercise and activity - Diabetes Canada
Mental health
- Healthy living toolkit for families - Kelty Mental Health, BC Children’s Hospital
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Physical activity - MS Society of Canada
Spinal cord injury (SCI)
- Exercise resources for adults with SCI - ICORD: University of British Columbia Faculty of Medicine (UBC) and Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute (VCH)
- Northern Adapted Sports Association (NASA)
Stroke
- Exercise and mobility after stroke - Stroke Recovery Association of BC
- Stay active - Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
- Stroke recovery drop-in virtual programs - Stroke Recovery Association of BC
Additional resources
- Active for health: For persons with chronic conditions - HealthLink BC
- EveryBodyMoves resource hub: Inclusive and accessible physical activity - Physical Activity for Health Collaborative and BC Alliance for Healthy Living
- Exercise resources by chronic condition - Exercise is Medicine (EIM) Canada
- Physical activity and disease prevention - HealthLink BC
- 23 and ½ hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health? (video) - Reframe Health Lab
Northern Health resources
- Cancer care - Northern Health
- Cardiac care - Northern Health
- Chronic pain - Northern Health
- Dementia - Northern Health
- Diabetes - Northern Health
- Mental health and substance use - Northern Health
- Stroke care - Northern Health