Instructions: Read the short Article below and take the Quiz.
Exercise Is Medicine ®
The World’s Prescription for Health
American College of Sports Medicine
As exercise and physical activity are integral to the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, Exercise is Medicine ®, a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), encourages primary care physicians and other health care providers to include exercise when designing treatment plans for patients. Along with the National Physical Activity Plan, Exercise is Medicine® strives to make physical activity a “vital sign” that is routinely assessed at every patient interaction with a health care provider.
Bringing health care and fitness together!
To jointly address the rapid progression of chronic diseases and skyrocketing health care costs, Exercise is Medicine® (EIM), along with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) announced a new collaboration called the Exercise is Medicine Solution. The partnership and the EIM Solution will bring together health care systems, clinicians, fitness professionals, and community resources to affect positive health outcomes and reduce health care costs. The announcement was made at the National Press Club in Washington DC and included in a keynote by 18th U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD.
Why Medical-Fitness?
Despite on-going efforts encouraging physicians to prescribe exercise as both a prevention strategy and/or as a front-line treatment modality, most physicians refuse to even ask their patients the obvious question: "Do you participate in regular physical activity?" Our research into this situation has discovered 5 primary and legitimate reasons:
1) Patients' responses are not reliable: "Most patients tell me what they think I want to hear. They say Yes, when the truth is No. They want their pills, not a lecture. Asking about "physical activity" is too vague and subjective."
2) The doctor's patient load is too demanding. "Telling a patient how to exercise is time-consuming, and prescribing exercise without a functional fitness assessment and proper instructions on how to perform the exercises could be dangerous."
3) There's no standard reference: "There needs to be a reliable and cost-effective "lab test" for fitness. That way, if their fitness level doesn't improve, I'll know they're not exercising properly."
4) Resources are scarce: "I wish I could refer my patients to a local fitness professional, but vetting and matching them would be an enormous task and an on-going hassle. Personal training can be expensive, and their instructions are often inconsistent with sound medical advice."
5) Side-Effects are unacceptable: "Patients won't take a "pill" that induces shortness of breath, a lot of sweating, requires an hour or more of their time every day, and repeatedly causes muscle soreness or even an occasional injury."
6) Patient Non-Compliance: "I use to tell all my patients about the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. But, none of them took my advice. They want me to "fix" them. So, I quit banging my head against that wall."
7) The doctor's incongruent lifestyle: "I know I should ask the questions, but I'm no specimen of physical fitness myself. I'm simply uncomfortable raising the issue. Although I believe in and can explain the many benefits of exercise, I don't want to appear hypocritical."
OptiHealth Institute Response
Med-Fit Clinics address all these reasons and more. As a physician or other health professional, you can order a standardized "lab test" for fitness by simply referring your patients to a local Med-Fit Clinic for a free Med-Fit Assessment. Your patients get an official Med-Fit Score, a personalized Exercise Rx, and one free fitness training session. Follow-up fitness services are available depending on your patient's fitness level and health goals.
Your patient's Exercise Rx is personalized and involves 5-15 minutes of simple body-movements that can be done any time, any where. These frequent short bouts of exercise are easy, safe, and effective. Our approach improves both patient compliance and treatment outcomes.
Med-Fit Clinics specialize in helping patients who HATE to exercise, and their Exercise Rx often serves as an introduction to our other Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) support services. In fact, your patients will be feeling better quickly, and they will thank you for their results.
How?
Sound too good to be true? You may want to start with a free Med-Fit Assessment for yourself or some one on your staff. It wasn't until healthcare professionals quit smoking in the 1950's and '60's that they were able to decrease the smoking rates among their patients. Sitting is the new smoking, so let's work together and conquer the growing public health threat of a sedentary lifestyle, as well!
Bringing health care and fitness together!
To jointly address the rapid progression of chronic diseases and skyrocketing health care costs, Exercise is Medicine® (EIM), along with the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) announced a new collaboration called the Exercise is Medicine Solution. The partnership and the EIM Solution will bring together health care systems, clinicians, fitness professionals, and community resources to affect positive health outcomes and reduce health care costs. The announcement was made at the National Press Club in Washington DC and included in a keynote by 18th U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD.
Why Medical-Fitness?
Despite on-going efforts encouraging physicians to prescribe exercise as both a prevention strategy and/or as a front-line treatment modality, most physicians refuse to even ask their patients the obvious question: "Do you participate in regular physical activity?" Our research into this situation has discovered 5 primary and legitimate reasons:
1) Patients' responses are not reliable: "Most patients tell me what they think I want to hear. They say Yes, when the truth is No. They want their pills, not a lecture. Asking about "physical activity" is too vague and subjective."
2) The doctor's patient load is too demanding. "Telling a patient how to exercise is time-consuming, and prescribing exercise without a functional fitness assessment and proper instructions on how to perform the exercises could be dangerous."
3) There's no standard reference: "There needs to be a reliable and cost-effective "lab test" for fitness. That way, if their fitness level doesn't improve, I'll know they're not exercising properly."
4) Resources are scarce: "I wish I could refer my patients to a local fitness professional, but vetting and matching them would be an enormous task and an on-going hassle. Personal training can be expensive, and their instructions are often inconsistent with sound medical advice."
5) Side-Effects are unacceptable: "Patients won't take a "pill" that induces shortness of breath, a lot of sweating, requires an hour or more of their time every day, and repeatedly causes muscle soreness or even an occasional injury."
6) Patient Non-Compliance: "I use to tell all my patients about the benefits of a healthy, active lifestyle. But, none of them took my advice. They want me to "fix" them. So, I quit banging my head against that wall."
7) The doctor's incongruent lifestyle: "I know I should ask the questions, but I'm no specimen of physical fitness myself. I'm simply uncomfortable raising the issue. Although I believe in and can explain the many benefits of exercise, I don't want to appear hypocritical."
OptiHealth Institute Response
Med-Fit Clinics address all these reasons and more. As a physician or other health professional, you can order a standardized "lab test" for fitness by simply referring your patients to a local Med-Fit Clinic for a free Med-Fit Assessment. Your patients get an official Med-Fit Score, a personalized Exercise Rx, and one free fitness training session. Follow-up fitness services are available depending on your patient's fitness level and health goals.
Your patient's Exercise Rx is personalized and involves 5-15 minutes of simple body-movements that can be done any time, any where. These frequent short bouts of exercise are easy, safe, and effective. Our approach improves both patient compliance and treatment outcomes.
Med-Fit Clinics specialize in helping patients who HATE to exercise, and their Exercise Rx often serves as an introduction to our other Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) support services. In fact, your patients will be feeling better quickly, and they will thank you for their results.
How?
Sound too good to be true? You may want to start with a free Med-Fit Assessment for yourself or some one on your staff. It wasn't until healthcare professionals quit smoking in the 1950's and '60's that they were able to decrease the smoking rates among their patients. Sitting is the new smoking, so let's work together and conquer the growing public health threat of a sedentary lifestyle, as well!
After reading the Article above, take the Quiz below.