Movement Foundation

Introduction to movement

Movement refers to moving the body. This is sometimes called physical activity or exercise, but also includes daily general activity.

Lack of movement and lack of challenging the body's muscles leads to a gradual decline in metabolic health.

Metabolic health is aided by three key types of movement. These are:

• moving regularly
• challenging big muscles
• challenging the cardiorespiratory system (lungs, heart, and blood vessels).

In addition, rest is important especially after episodes of more intensive movement.

Movement can be divided into factors that worsen metabolic health, and those which improve it.

Spending prolonged periods of time, whilst awake, sitting or lying down.

Excessive physical activity with inadequate rest.

Light activity for a few minutes every hour or so.

Challenging the muscles of the arms, legs, and buttocks for a short period.

Activity that causes an increase in breathing rate and the heart to beat faster.