Exercise safety
Please read this once before you start. It's short.
This is not medical advice
ChairGlow offers general exercise information for adults who are able to exercise. It isn't a substitute for advice from your doctor, physiotherapist or other health professional, and it can't take your health into account.
Check with your doctor first if
- you have a heart or lung condition, high blood pressure that isn't well controlled, or diabetes
- you've had a fall, an injury, or surgery (including joint replacement) in the last few months
- you have osteoporosis and haven't been told which movements are safe for you
- you've been told to limit activity for any reason
- you're unsure whether exercise is right for you
- chest pain, pressure or tightness
- dizziness, light-headedness or faintness
- breathlessness that doesn't settle when you rest
- sharp or joint pain, or pain that gets worse as you go
- numbness, tingling, or a sudden severe headache
This is general exercise information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, or you've had a fall, injury or surgery recently, check with your doctor or physiotherapist first.
Setting up
- Use a sturdy chair without wheels. Push it against a wall so it can't slide.
- Sit near the middle of the seat unless the exercise says otherwise, feet flat on the floor.
- Wear comfortable clothes and supportive shoes, or bare feet on a non-slip floor.
- Keep water nearby and clear the space around you.
- For standing exercises, have the chair in front of you or beside you for support, and someone nearby if you're unsteady.
How hard should it feel?
You should be able to talk in short sentences. Muscles may feel warm or tired, and that's normal. Joint pain, sharp pain, or pain that gets worse as you go is not. Stop, rest, and try an easier version next time.
Every exercise page tells you who should skip it
Each exercise in our library lists who should skip it and why, plus easier and harder versions. Those notes are general. If your doctor or physiotherapist has given you specific advice, follow theirs.