HFNZ Exercise Competition 09/10

Congratulations Southern on being the winners of the second round of the Elizabeth Berry Exercise Cup!

Why A Competition?

People with haemophilia, especially children, may be at increased risk of obesity for a number of reasons, including reduced activity because of joint bleeding and ongoing exposure to factors contributing to the increasing obesity in the wider community. Obesity in people with haemophilia has the additional complications of reducing intravenous access needed for infusions of clotting factor concentrate, increased costs associated with larger doses of clotting factor concentrate and increasing stress on weight bearing joints speeding up the development of haemophilic arthropathy.

For those with bleeding disorders research clearly shows that the benefits of exercise outweigh the risks. Regular exercise strengthens muscles that provide protection for joints. It also improves the health of cartilage, thus reducing pain. Some research has shown that exercise may increase factor levels and so reduce incidence of bleeds. Of course, a reduction in weight also takes stress off joints.

According to the World Health Organisation at least 60% of world population fails to reach minimum recommendations for exercise. They recommend that everyone should participate in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for children.  New Zealand has taken this recommendation on board and has launched physical activity strategies and programmes aimed at encouraging New Zealanders to become more active.

The most recent research suggests that it is regular, moderate-intensity physical activity that has the most benefit. Moderate physical activity has the advantage of being low risk, cheap, natural and suitable in varying forms to almost all ages and abilities. But to really be beneficial, exercise needs to be a regular activity.

With all that in mind, HFNZ wants to encourage all of you to get out and get moving. To try and inspire you to action, we have come up with a clever competition to be run over the next year to try to increase all of our activity levels and be healthier in general.

Regional Competition

Purpose

To get everyone moving more

Goal

For your region to win the prestigious “Elizabeth Berry Exercise Cup” (and for you to feel healthier and have more energy)

Who Can Participate?

Registrations are for individual or teams of 4. Anyone can register as individuals. Teams must have a least one person with bleeding disorder.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded for:
•    The most improved individual
•    The most improved individual with bleeding disorder
•    The most consistent individual
•    The most improved team

Motivation

When it comes to being physically active “the more the merrier”. It is certainly easier to be motivated and way more fun when you have a whole group to be active with.

Encourage your region to plan social events that could be arranged around a physical activity such as laser tag or swimming. Or simply get your friends and family involved. Find some walks in your area – explore places you may not usually go to.  Suggest a swim before the café visit.  Try a new sport.  Even starting small like parking further away from the shop you are needing to and walking the five minutes to get there. You don’t necessarily need to join a gym or sports team if that’s not what interests you. See the list of Quick ideas for Getting Active for ideas of how you be more active in your everyday life.

You can also encourage your clinical staff to be involved. Everyone needs to be moving more.

Latest Results - at end July 2009

REGION	PARTICIPANTS	POINTS
Northern	5	2333
Midland	0	0
Central	2	1775
Southern	5	2751