Sports an effective way to prevent lifestyle diseases

Exercise is part and parcel of physical activities carried out each day.

This is the sentiment of Physiotherapy director Cathy Wong as the Fiji Physiotherapy Association gears up for a conference on "movement for health and diabetes" to celebrate World Physiotherapy Day this weekend.

Wong said sports are a portion of physiotherapy and they are trying to encourage people to participate in sports as a lifelong habit and as an effective way to prevent lifestyle diseases.

She said diabetes is the most common cause of adult blindness and non-traumatic amputation in the country and 300 diabetes patients undergo amputations every year.

Wong said most people perceive staying physically active as hitting the gym which is not the case.