Sunshine Hospital launches a healthy move

Many people need help when it comes to pounding the pavement or hitting the gym – even hospital employees.

Doctors, nurses and other staff at Sunshine Hospital will be given their ‘marching orders’ as part of Exercise Right Week (May 26-30), which aims to promote the role of accredited exercise physiologists (AEP) in the workplace.

AEPs are allied health professionals who specialise in making exercise “prescriptions” for people who are suffering, or at high-risk of developing, chronic diseases and injuries.

Western Health has two AEPs working across the Sunshine and Western hospitals, and three allied health assistants at Sunshine and Williamstown hospitals. They will offer free consultations for doctors, nurses and other employees this week to keep them in peak fitness.

“The national physical activity guidelines say that all Australians should be taking part in 30 minutes of exercise each day,’’ exercise physiologist student Danielle Grioli said.

‘‘It can be broken up into 10-minute bouts to promote good health, decrease the risk of obesity and all other complications like heart disease, diabetes, or metabolic conditions.

“So many people are spending so much time at work they’re not actually taking care of themselves and putting time away for exercise.”