There are absolutely no side effects from careful, well targeted exercise when it is done correctly. Some people need to be careful about what exercise they do and how they do it, including those with heart disease, osteoporosis, arthritis and asthma. Even so, everyone can do some form of exercise and it will help improve each of these conditions if carefully managed.

If you're concerned, it's best to exercise in a group with an instructor who is qualified to adapt exercise to suit any medical condition so as to ensure safety and effectiveness. Talk to your doctor before you start any unaccustomed exercise to check that it is safe for you.

Buy a book to help get you started

Help the Aged has produced a book called 'Exercise for Healthy Ageing', which you may find helpful. Designed for people who have been immobile for a while, who haven't taken exercise recently, the book provides a graduated programme of planned exercises. It is devised by Dr Dawn Skelton and based on scientific research funded by the charity Research into Ageing, a special trust of Help the Aged.

To order 'Exercise for Healthy Ageing' for just £4.00 (plus £1.75 p&p), please complete the Help the Aged order form (PDF) and return it to:

Help the Aged Publishing
207-221 Pentonville Road
London N1 9UZ

Or call: 020 7239 1486 or email here.