Major sports stadium is venue for Love activity, Hate exercise? campaign messages

^{Promotional material from the CSP's Love activity, Hate exercise? campaign was distributed widely to spectators at the Hull city stadium on 27 July. Photos: Asadour Guzelian}

The campaign’s logos and messages were displayed on giant screens at the KCOM stadium in Kingston upon Hull on Friday.

On the pitch were Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers professional rugby league clubs.

And in the stands the Love activity, Hate exercise? leaflets were distributed to nearly 18,000 fans.

Physiotherapists in the region are part of a unique collaboration with rugby league clubs, the clinical commissioning group and the council’s public health department.

CSP campaigns and regional engagement officer Catherine Chappell said: ‘It was pleasing because it brought the inspiring messages about the Love activity, Hate exercise? campaign to thousands of members of the public in Hull and was enabled by a member who is thinking innovatively by promoting the campaign at a local level.’

Teaming up for health, a year-long pilot project, aims to demonstrate the positive impacts that engaging with the various community-based programmes can have on health and wellbeing.

It is holding events through the year to showcase the range of services available to the general public.

Hull Kingston Rovers runs 'Food for thought' sessions and FIT4FC fitness sessions at the Hull FC training ground. Fans are granted access to the facilities used by the first team, free of charge.

The 10 week block allows participants to track their individual progress, and receive a free health check.

Fans can join past and current players to find out how they cope with the everyday demands of life alongside being a professional athlete.

‘Discover how they handle criticism, bounce back from injury, manage life in the public eye and what happens when it’s time to hang up their boots,’ said a Teaming up for health spokeswoman.

‘Come along to help build your mental and physical fitness, by listening to powerful stories from past and current players, coaches and referees, before then taking part in a physical activity session at the first team training ground.’

Chris John, senior physiotherapist at Hull FC, added: ‘There is a myth that exercise is not good for you if you are in pain. Seeking advice from a physiotherapist may be appropriate if you are worried that exercise may cause you too much pain or fatigue.

‘Physiotherapists understand how you might feel about your limits and are the trusted experts to give you the hope, help and advice so that you can do more of the activities you love.’