HSE Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow & HSE Cork North/South Lee Community Healthcare in conjunction with the Irish Society for Chartered Physiotherapists have produced a “Let’s Get Moving Again”  information booklet with eight daily exercises  to encourage people to become active again after cocooning during COVID-19’.

According to Dr Gráinne Kelly ,Interim Physiotherapy Manager for the Dublin West:  “Being physically active and exercising are important for good health. Many members of the public and users of physiotherapy services report fear and anxiety in returning to physical activity and exercise following periods of inactivity or reduced activity. The advice and exercises we are sharing in the Let’s Get Moving Again Booklet are to assist people in returning safely to physical activity and exercise. This booklet was developed as a follow on to a previous booklet related to exercise during the cocooning phase of COVID-19; however its contents can be used beyond COVID-19 in helping people become more active and resume activities they enjoy.’

Esther-Mary D’Arcy, Professional Advisor with the Irish Society for Chartered Physiotherapists  hopes the booklet will be widely distributed and used throughout the country:  "As chartered physiotherapists we are extremely concerned about the impact of the pandemic on population health – the majority of our population has been unaffected by COVID-19 but has been affected by the pandemic. We would describe decreased activity  as the silent impact of the pandemic -  affecting strength and muscle mass, bone health, cardiac and chest health, weight management and mental health.  We hope that as the country opens up, this exercise programme will help people to ‘get moving’ and to enjoy the benefits".

Head of Primary Care Mary O’Kelly acknowledged the support provided to our physiotherapists  in the development of the booklet “This network of communication with the HSE Physiotherapy service, the Irish Society for Chartered Physiotherapists, South Dublin County Sports Partnership, Age Friendly Ireland, Kildare Sports Partnerships, Dublin City Sport & Wellbeing Partnership and  Creative Concepts has proved to be very positive and will enable us to communicate the Lets Get Moving Again booklet to a wider audience.”

The booklet is available to download here: 

The booklet will also be delivered to people’s homes via the HSE Physiotherapy Department, Local Authority Community Call and Sport Partnerships.