Walking cricket to be prescribed on NHS

Bob Bromberg said the sport has helped him lose weight as it "gets your heart beating quite quickly"

A walking cricket player says the sport has helped him to improve his health as an NHS service starts prescribing it to patients.

Healthy Lifestyles Gloucestershire, in partnership with Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, has launched "Fit For The Overs" sessions at Cirencester Leisure Centre, mostly aimed at men aged 50 or over.

The scheme will combine sport with health checks, such as blood pressure, and education, including healthy eating habits and hydration.

Bob Bromberg, 70, said, although running is not allowed in walking cricket, "it gets you moving and gets your heart beating quite quickly".

The sessions began last month and will last for 14 weeks, with patients prescribed it based on their age, BMI, and ethnicity.

Dr Freddie Charrington, a GP at Phoenix Health Group in Tetbury, said the scheme was "breaking down barriers" in getting men to get help.

"You lose muscle mass faster as you get older, so keeping active, doing sport is essential," he said.

"It's getting easier, but traditionally, it is hard to get men to come to their doctor... being able to mix it with sport is perfect.

"We know exercise helps physical health, but also being able to talk to other men about their problems is going to help."

Dr Charrington said the partnership would encourage men to talk about their problems with other men while keeping active

Crispin Shingler, community development manager at Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, said many of those taking part in the sessions said it improved their mobility and had found "really good friendship groups".

"Some have said it's a reason for getting out of the house... and also the mental agility of having to umpire and keep the score," he said.

Player Bob Bromberg said that the sport is "fun", he has enjoyed the "very good camaraderie", and it has helped him improve his health.

Walking cricket players have reported social, mental and physical benefits

Mr Bromberg was told to lose weight by his doctor and said he has done so by taking up walking, walking football, and walking cricket.

"When you're bowling and batting, it's quite energetic," he said.

"Though you're not meant to run, you are moving. And moving, as we know, for older folk is extremely good for us."