Your weekly physical activity bulletin

25 February 2025

We are working towards improving the health and wellbeing of the nation through sport, exercise and physical activity. For more information on our work visit our website or follow us on X @NCSEM_PAnews

Loughborough University research leads to rule change in World Wheelchair Rugby

Research conducted by Loughborough University has led to a rule change in World Wheelchair Rugby (WWR), increasing female participation in the sport.

The study, delivered by Professor Vicky Tolfrey and Dr Thomas Rietveld of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, measured female athletes’ upper arm strength, shoulder and elbow flexion, as well as sprint performance – all of which impact classification processes.

Before the study, the combined classification points of the four players on court cannot exceed 8.0. World Wheelchair Rugby international rules then granted an additional 0.5 points for each female athlete on court.

Following Loughborough’s project, new World Wheelchair Rugby international rules still grant an additional 0.5 point for every female low-point player on-court (i.e athletes classified as 0.5-1.5), however, this will now be increased to 1.0 point for every female high-point player on-court (athletes classified as 2.0 and above).

Sheffield Women’s Health Week 2025

Sheffield Women’s Health Week is taking place from the 3rd to 8th March 2025, and will culminate with Super Saturday on International Women’s Day. This week is all about celebrating and promoting the importance of movement for women’s health, while addressing the unique challenges women face at different life stages. 

Move More Sheffield has got a fantastic programme lined up, with a variety of activities, including workshops, workouts and webinars! The webinar series will feature a wide range of voices - from researchers and practitioners to project managers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience. Together, they will share current insights, research, and personal stories to inform and inspire conversations around women’s health and physical activity. 

Winning Insights: Elevating MSK imaging in Professional Sports

Join the MSK Biennial Meeting, to delve into the cutting-edge world of sports imaging. Led by renowned expert, Professor Rowena Johnson, Consultant Musculoskeletal Radiologist, this event will explore the latest advancements and best practices for diagnosing and treating athletic injuries, the range of therapeutic procedures, and managing the risks involved in professional sports.

You’ll gain insights into the collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to working in a high-pressure, fast-paced sports environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your knowledge and network with industry peers from the UK and globally.

Strengthening Partnerships for Inclusive Physical Activity

The Peter Harrison Centre teamed up with lifestyle for health and wellbeing colleagues to host Alex Giles, Stacey Johnson and Helen Derby from Activity Alliance. Colleagues from Activity Alliance did a seminar on the latest strategic updates and a spotlight on one of their flagship programmes, Get Out Get Active. There were lots of questions posed throughout the seminar, including people’s views on what inclusion means to them and their work.  

Building on a number of mutual interests and projects including a new PhD studentship, colleagues from across the PHC and university are strengthening the partnership between Activity Alliance and Loughborough University.

ukactive reports first results of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion self-assessment tool and highlights steps for sector progress

ukactive has announced the findings of its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) self-assessment tool and report.  

The findings reveal the current EDI performance of a sample of organisations across the physical activity sector and their ability to deliver the most inclusive service. 

The report, called ‘Progressing the EDI agenda’, marks the end of the first year of consultation using the self-assessment, which was completed by 68 organisations, including facility operators from both the private and public sectors, as well as other providers and also suppliers.  

What does a parkrun practice do?

Since 2018, parkrun UK and the Royal College of General Practitioners have joined forces to raise awareness of parkrun amongst GPs and practice staff, encouraging them to take part in parkrun and signpost patients and carers to their local parkrun events. 

The initiative is part of a wider social prescribing programme to support the health and wellbeing of local communities which sees parkrun prescribed to patients to improve their health.

Over the past few years, almost 2,000 practices across the UK have signed up to be part of it.

New report calls for people to get talking about health issues

The public want people working in public facing roles to be trained to have conversations about physical and mental health, a new report by the Royal Society for Public Health has found.

‘What are you talking about?’  argues that everyday conversations have the potential to influence healthy behaviours like exercise, drinking less, and quitting smoking, as well as signposting to further support on issues like mental health and the menopause.

Polling of nearly 2,000 adults found that across a range of settings where the public and staff are regularly talking, most Brits would like to see more training to promote physical and mental wellbeing.

Bitesize learning modules set to support TAs to deliver inclusive PE

An online course to support Teaching Assistants (TAs) in school sports has been released as part of the Inclusion 2024 programme.

Designed to support Teaching Assistants, the course will equip TAs with the confidence to create outstanding PE experiences for every pupil regardless of their abilities.

The short interactive training modules have been written with the help of Teaching Assistants. Each element is designed to empower TAs and can be completed in just 10 minutes. Available on the Activity Alliance Learning Hub it takes just minutes to sign up and start learning.

Stand with Women in Sport this International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day isn’t just a date in the calendar that comes and goes every year. It’s a chance to reflect on the progress made and to accelerate action towards equality for women and girls in sport.  

Since Women in Sport was founded in 1984, it's been campaigning for a society where no woman or girl is excluded from the joy, fulfilment and lifelong benefits of sport. The charity has come a long way, but early stereotyping, institutional bias and entrenched misogyny continue to hold us back. 

The weekly physical activity bulletin in a summary of news stories that appear across the physical activity sector. The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine is not responsible for the content of external sites.

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