New We Are Undefeatable campaign encourages people with long-term health conditions to be active

We Are Undefeatable

Parkinson’s UK, and members of the UK Parkinson's Excellence Network are pleased to support a part of an inspiring new campaign - We Are Undefeatable.

The campaign has been launched to support the one in four (15 million) people in England who live with one or more long-term health conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, arthritis and Parkinson’s. 

The campaign, which has been developed with support from Parkinson’s specialist physiotherapists, recognises the unique barriers people with health conditions face. It aims to inspire, reassure and support people in their quest to be active by showing people living with a variety of conditions – both visible and invisible – on their own journeys.  

We Are Undefeatable compliments the key messages of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Love Activity, Hate Exercise campaign, which draws on insight from patients and physiotherapists to help identify barriers that prevent people from being more active. Read more about the campaign here.

It all helps

New research commissioned as part of the campaign reveals that the majority of people with a long-term health condition want to be active, and are aware of the health benefits, but don’t know where to start.

The research showed that:

• 69% of people living with long-term health conditions would like to be more active
• 66% say it would help manage or improve their condition, with improved mood and wellbeing seen as the biggest benefit (52%)
• Nearly a quarter (24%) of people with a long-term health condition feared that physical activity would make their health issues worse and two in five (44%) would like more help and advice on how to be more active.

The survey of over 1,000 adults also revealed that people with long standing health concerns feel they face unique barriers. Over a third of people  cited lack of energy as the main barrier to increasing physical activity, and over a quarter reported that the unpredictable nature of their long term health condition made it hard to commit to a routine.

We Are Undefeatable recognises these unique barriers and it is the first time a campaign has shown the emotional stories of men and women living with a variety of conditions getting active in ways that suit their needs.

#WeAreUndefeatable

The campaign will run across TV, radio and social media, encouraging people to visit weareundefeatable.co.uk, and to use the hashtag #WeAreUndefeatable across social media for inspiration and tips. 

Support and resources for professionals

For people with Parkinson’s, physical activity and exercise can be as important as medication, so helping people to understand what activity is suitable at different stages is really beneficial. 

View the Parkinson’s Exercise Framework, developed by the UK Parkinson’s Excellence Network Exercise Hub, includes key points for professionals and examples of exercises to help people with Parkinson’s choose exercise styles that are right for them and their symptoms.

People with Parkinson’s can see what type of activity might be right for them and what’s available in their local area on the physical activity and exercise pages of the Parkinson’s UK website. Visit our physical activity and exercise information.

PHE also offer a Moving Health Professionals programme providing a range of resources for health professionals to learn more about physical activity benefits. One such resource is the Moving Medicine tool which supports conversations about activity with patients with long term conditions. Check out the Moving Medicine tool.