Røkke, Silje. “Physical activity in nature – health promoting and free”

This is a photo of an outdoor gym with 15 different structures, located by the river in the town where I live. The gym is free for all to use, and on the white sign in the picture there are examples of different exercises that you can do on the various structures. As you can see there is also a track running along the river. People use this track for running, biking, and walking like you see the old man doing in the picture. I think this is a great example of how the municipality can facilitate physical activity, exercise and time spent outside for its citizens. Gym-memberships in Norway can be really expensive, so this is a good way to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to stay physically active, and it is an opportunity to enjoy a bit of nature in the city. I have also seen physiotherapists and trainers using the outdoor gym for group training. We know that time spent outdoors in nature decreases stress levels, and I think it is beneficial for patients to do some activity outside. The track is also available to people with wheelchairs and walking aids, and can  potentially be used in different stages of rehabilitation.

Physical activity promotes health, and is an important aid to prevent and treat various diseases. The health directorate in Norway recommend  150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week for adults, and if you have some kind of disability they recommend that you stay as physically active as possible within your limits and as your condition will allow (helsedirektoratet.no, 2016). Therefore it is important to have access to areas that facilitate physical activity and exercise. In Norway we have a public health law which purpose is to contribute to a community that promotes public health and prevents disease. It aims to equalize differences in the population when it comes to health issues, and to create environmental conditions that contributes to public health. Each municipality is responsible for promoting public health among their citizens through health services and urban planning among other things (https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2011-06-24-29?q=folkehelseloven).  Stress and stress-related  illness have increased in western societies, and some studies have indicated that urban landscape planning can affect stress. In one study they saw a relationship between the use of urban green areas and self-reported experience of stress which indicated that the more often a person visits urban green places, the less often he or she will report stress related illness (Grahn & Stigsdotter, 2003). I think this is something we can take into consideration when we are treating patients, and maybe we could take more advantage of the possibility to train and be physically active in nature with them.

References:

Helsedirektoratet (2016). https://helsedirektoratet.no/folkehelse/fysisk-aktivitet/anbefalinger-fysisk-aktivitet

Gran, P. & Stigsdotter, U. A. (2003). Landscape planning and stress. Urban forestry & urban greening. Vol. 2, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1078/1618-8667-00019

Helse og omsorgsdepartementet. (2011). Lov om folkehelsearbeid (folkehelseloven).
https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2011-06-24-29?q=folkehelseloven