Table 2 German recommendations for physical activity for adults with noncommunicable diseases

Adults with a noncommunicable disease should be physically active on a regular basis. This will allow them to achieve significant health effects.

Health effects already take place when individuals who were entirely physically inactive become somewhat more active. This means that all additional physical activity is linked to health benefits. Every step away from physical inactivity is important and promotes health.

In order to maintain and promote health comprehensively, adults with a noncommunicable disease should follow the physical activity recommendations for healthy adults. Most adults with a noncommunicable disease can and should have:

Moderate-intensity aerobic PA for at least 150 min/week where possible (e.g. 5 × 30 min a week) OR

at least 75 min/week of vigorous-intensity aerobic PA OR

a corresponding combination of both intensities (e.g. 50 min moderate-intensity PA and 50 min vigorous-intensity PA).

The aerobic PA should be gathered in bouts lasting at least 10 min distributed over days and week (e.g. at least 3 × 10 min/day for 5 days a week).

Additionally, muscle-strengthening PA should be conducted at least twice a week.

During phases in which the recommendations cannot be met (e.g. due to severity of illness or reduced physical capacity), adults with NCDs should be as active as their current situation permits.