20,000 Kiwis Sign Up To Get Active

Twenty thousand New Zealanders have made a commitment to getting fit by signing up to ACC’s personalised fitness and nutrition programme ActiveSmart.

The web-based programme was set up in April this year by ACC in association with the Ministry of Health, SPARC, Fitness New Zealand, the Heart Foundation and the Cancer Society.

Simon Gianotti, ACC Injury Prevention Team Leader, has congratulated all those who have signed up. He said that to have 20,000 people join in only nine months showed the drive New Zealanders have to become more active.

“A wide range of people are accessing the website and the feedback we have received has been very positive,” he said.

The website offers nutritional advice, a five day weather forecast, diagrams and videos of training techniques, email reminders, and a regional events calendar.

Mr Gianotti said that a great benefit of the site is that it provides advice about how to safely get back into activity after a break, or how to increase the amount of activity.

The online resource is even benefiting Kiwis living overseas. Rob Twaddle is originally from Northland but now uses ActiveSmart from his home in Japan.

Mr Twaddle said the website brought an exercise plan to his doorstep and provided motivation. “I have a programme with definite objectives and challenges and a purpose for my exercise.”

ACC figures record that almost 25,000 New Zealanders were injured playing sport, and 96 people died as a result of their injuries, in 2006/07.

“Often injuries occur when people are unfamiliar with the correct practice. ActiveSmart provides a complete training programme with safe stretches, warm ups and a gradual increase of activity.” Simon Gianotti said.

To create your own fitness programme go to www.activesmart.co.nz. Specific sports programmes are also available on the following sites:
www.netballsmart.co.nz
www.soccersmart.co.nz
www.snowsmart.co.nz.

ENDS

© Scoop Media