Keep playing! : experiencing the joy of movement until the end of life

![CDATA[Creative, social and vigorous play is critical for our development as children and adolescents, and being similarly active throughout adulthood is a key attribute of those who age successfully. ‘Exercise’ can be defined most simply as ‘organised play’. There is irrefutable empirical evidence of the effectiveness of regular exercise in the primary and secondary prevention of leading chronic illnesses, including cardiometabolic risk factors and diseases, numerous cancers, and mental health disorders, just to name a few. The benefits of exercise also extend to those nearing the end of life. Many studies have shown that individuals receiving palliative care are interested in, and capable of, participating in a professionally-directed exercise program undertaken at home and/or in a group. Documented benefits after >6 weeks participation have included significant reductions in disease-related symptoms (e.g. fatigue, sleep disturbance), and improvements in a broad number of physical and psychosocial assessments, including quality of life. However, despite such evidence, exercise professional and their services remain largely peripheral to palliative care. This presentation provides an overview of the necessity of human movement to health and wellbeing across the lifespan with emphasis on the empirical evidence supporting exercise participation in people with incurable diseases, and at the end of life. From this theoretical base, two distinct case studies will be presented to highlight how an accredited exercise physiologist (AEP) could develop a tailored exercise program for an individual receiving palliative care. Programming will be complemented by broader activity and lifestyle recommendations, as per the AEP scope of practice. Strategies and technologies to facilitate engagement of clients will also be discussed, including the importance of role modelling and team care synergy. Underpinning the whole presentation are the themes of social engagement and time in nature as keys to experiencing the joy of human movement until the end of life.]]