Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Movement as medicine: what can physical activity really do for our health?

Garry Tew PhD FHEA FCASES. Director, Institute for Health and Care Improvement

Professor of Clinical Exercise Science 

Physical activity has been described as a “miracle cure”, but is that really true? Scientific research has transformed our understanding of the role of movement in health, showing that regular physical activity can help prevent and treat many of the most common chronic diseases. At the same time, it is important to separate evidence from exaggeration. This lecture explores what we now know about the benefits—and limitations—of movement as medicine. Drawing on research from clinical trials, including work carried out at York St John University, Professor Garry Tew will discuss how physical activity and exercise is being used to help people prepare for major surgery, manage circulatory disease and live well with long-term health conditions. Along the way, the audience will discover why even small increases in physical activity can make a meaningful difference, and how the latest evidence can help us all move more confidently towards better health.

7pm in the Tempest Anderson Lecture Theatre in the Yorkshire Museum on TUESDAY 22 September 2026.

YPS Members and students free, non members £5.

Member’s report:

Professor Tew started his talk with the question: should physical activity be considered a ‘miracle cure’ ? A great many illnesses can be prevented and treated with physical activity, but what is physical activity? The answer is “Any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure.” However, physical activity does not equal exercise. Exercise is regarded as planned, structured or purposeful physical activity, but physical activity could also entail going to the shops. Hence, all exercise is physical activity but not vice versa. However, physical fitness isn’t just one thing and includes cardiorespiratory, muscular, body composition, neuromotor, and flexibility. Consequently, different goals require different approaches as one might exercise for health, recreation, or improvement in performance.

How much physical activity do we need? The suggestion was to aim for 150 (or 75 vigorous) minutes per week and to build strength two days a week with sedentary time kept to a minimum. Among the population reaching 150 minutes/week: York records 76% well in excess of the national figure of 63%. However, there is no magic threshold. It is often stated that ten thousand steps a day is a good aim, but the biggest gains come well before 10 000 (5000 to 7000 is also a good aim). What happens when we stop moving? Some test subjects reduced their daily steps from 10,000 to 1500 steps for only two weeks which resulted in a reduction of 17% in Insulin sensitivity, alongside bone loss, and cardiovascular deconditioning.

Among the health benefits of physical activity are mental health, fitness, healthy weight management, reduced risk of some cancer and metabolic diseases and reduces frailty. Exercise as medicine has broad therapeutic value such as for assisting with claudication which reduces blood flow in the leg and causes leg pain. Exercise can help people prepare for surgery. Conversely, can physical activity be harmful? In certain conditions it can. The examples cited were in cardiovascular conditions (e.g. heart attack after or during a run), osteoporosis which carries a risk of fracture, joint problems and Long Covid can all be exacerbated with exercise, so the position is not straightforward.Professor Tew finished with a quotation from Plato (428-348 BC): “Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being, while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it”.

Chris Walker