Exercise is Medicine

Resources and support for keeping your patients or clients active during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

As we grapple with the consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s easy to forget an important component of health related to the immune system: exercise!

Exercise is Medicine® has assembled a variety of scientific articles and resources related to the effects of exercise (acute and chronic) on the body’s immune response. Although specific data related to COVID-19 and exercise has not yet been obtained, research examining the body’s response to exercise reveals a cascade of cellular mechanisms that help protect the body from viral illnesses. In addition, there is clear evidence that exercise reduces depressive symptoms in everyone, including number and severity, as well as the acute and chronic symptoms of anxiety. This could be a very important benefit of maintaining an active routine during this period of isolation and stress.

Web Resources

Returning to Physical Activity After COVID-19
Physical Inactivity Linked to Severe COVID-19
Rx for Health Series: practical tips on staying active for adults and children during this pandemic. COVID-19 handout has been translated into several languages, and a handout for keeping children active has also been created.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Staying Active While Social Distancing Questions and Answers
ACSM COVID-19 Resources for Staying At Home
ACSM COVID-19 Resources for the Exercise Professional
ACSM COVID-19 Reopening and Return to Play Resources
ACSM COVID-19 Faculty Resources for Virtual Teaching

Blogs

Staying Active During COVID-19 by Liz Joy, M.D., M.P.H., FACSM, FAMSSM
Physical Activity, COVID-19 and Older Adults by the EIM Older Adults Committee; Kate Edwards, Ph.D.; Garrett Kellar, Ed.D.; David Marquez, Ph.D.; Jeff Schlicht, Ph.D.
COVID-19, Exercise, Children and their Developing Immune System by Shlomit Radom-Aizik, Ph.D.
- Spanish Version
A Call to Action: Physical Activity and COVID-19 by Jim Sallis, Ph.D., FACSM and Mike Pratt, M.D. M.P.H., FACSM
- Spanish Version
A Clinician’s Thoughts about Self Care and Physical Activity during COVID by Keri Denay, M.D., FACSM
Exercise, Immunity and the COVID-19 Pandemic by Richard J. Simpson, Ph.D., FACSM
- Spanish Version
Life in the Post-COVID Era: One Physician's Perspective on How to Think Forward by Robert Zarr, M.D., M.P.H., Founder of Park Rx America
Being Active Now - A Different Spin by Robyn Stuhr, M.A., ACSM-CEP, RCEP
Why Keep this COVID-19 Remedy a Secret? by James F. Sallis, Ph.D., FACSM and Michael Pratt, M.D. M.P.H. FACSM

Podcasts

Exercise Increases Immune Function - How We Know by David Nieman, Dr.P.H., FACSM

Articles

Stéphane Bermon, M.D., Ph.D., et al.: Consensus Statement Immunotrition and Exercise (from “a panel of knowledgeable contributors from across the globe”)
Stephen A. Martin, Brandt D. Pence, and Jeffrey A. Woods: Exercise and Respiratory Tract Viral Infections
David Nieman, Dr.P.H. and Laurel Wentz, Ph.D..: The compelling link between physical activity and the body's defense system
Robert Sallis, M.D., et al.: Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes: a study in 48 440 adult patients
Richard Simpson, Ph.D. and Emmanuel Katsanis, M.D.: The immunological case for staying active during the COVID-19 pandemic
Richard Simpson, Ph.D., et al.: Can exercise affect immune function to increase susceptibility to infection?
Weimo Zhu: Should, and how can, exercise be done during a coronavirus outbreak? An interview with Dr. Jeffrey A. Woods

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Gold level recognition is the highest level of recognition and signifies the implementation of one or several components of the EIM Solution on the University campus, with the potential of extending into the local community. Community partnerships provide real world experience for students, while providing service to the local community.

Gold level campuses must assess physical activity as a vital sign.

A Gold level campus must also be engaged in at least (1) of the following:

* My campus assesses their patients' physical activity as a vital sign?

Yes No

* My campus is creating collaborations between university health care professionals and exercise professionals to provide physical activity prescriptions?

Yes No

* My campus has non-clinical professionals/departments directing students, faculty, and/or staff to the recreation center for health and fitness counseling?

Yes No

* My campus has a computer-based system to track patient participation in physical activity interventions?

Yes No

Other:

Silver level recognition includes activities related to awareness and promotion, and incorporates education for the university’s students, faculty, staff, and health care professionals, as well as those in the surrounding community, on EIM and its mission on campus. Silver campuses are actively engaged in educating others on the EIM solution for both the treatment and prevention of long-term illness and disease. University students are educated on the aims of EIM in health care, potentially certified as EIM health fitness professionals, and guided on how they can play a role in making physical activity an integral part of health care.

Silver level campuses must be engaged in at least (3) of the following: * My campus hosts classes that teach students the fundamentals of EIM on Campus and their potential role in fulfilling the mission of EIM?

Yes No

* My campus trains students to educate campus community members on EIM and the importance of physical activity as medicine?

Yes No

* My campus works with campus health services so that every health care provider discusses physical activity with every patient or client?

Yes No

Other:

Bronze level recognition is the first step in creating the EIM initiative on Campus. These campuses bring attention to the growing need for physical activity and take action in helping to create a healthier, more active campus environment.

Bronze level campuses create awareness of the importance of exercise and regular physical activity for health and promote exercise to students, faculty, staff and the community through engagement in any of the following activities. Bronze level campuses must engage in at least (3) of the following:

* My campus hosts events that promote physical activity?

Yes No

* My campus markets events that encourage all campus members to discuss physical activity with their health care professional?

Yes No

* My campus has created options for exercise that are easily accessible to the campus community?

Yes No

* My campus has completed a Mayoral, Governor, or University President EIM on Campus Month Proclamation?

Yes No

Other:

* Contact Person/Program Director:

* Resource Type (check all that apply):
Clinic or Hospital (inpatient) Community
Clinic or Hospital (outpatient) Home Based
Cancer Exercise Professional Digital/Online
Research Study

* What age groups are included (check all that apply)?
Adult Pediatric

* What cancer types are included in your program?

* What stages of treatment are included (check all that apply)?
Curative    Palliative
During Treatment    Post Treatment
Rehabilitation    Prehabilitation

* Who refers into the program? (How do clients access your program?) (check all that apply)
Client Clinician
Other

* What are the qualifications of the instructors?

* Is there a baseline safety evaluation of the client?

* If yes, performed by whom (check all that apply)?
Instructor Physician
Other

* What is the program duration? (e.g.; 12 weeks, 1 year)

* What is the frequency of sessions per week?

* Are sessions conducted in groups or individualized (check all that apply)?
Group Individualized

* How many years has the program been running?

* How many clients go through your program per year?

* Has your program ever been evaluated or audited?

* Please include a brief description (250 words or less) summarizing the above information:

* Who filled out this form?

* What is your role in the program?

As we grapple with the consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it’s easy to forget an important component of health related to the immune system: exercise!

Web Resources

Returning to Physical Activity After COVID-19
Physical Inactivity Linked to Severe COVID-19
Rx for Health Series: practical tips on staying active for adults and children during this pandemic. COVID-19 handout has been translated into several languages, and a handout for keeping children active has also been created.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Staying Active While Social Distancing Questions and Answers
ACSM COVID-19 Resources for Staying At Home
ACSM COVID-19 Resources for the Exercise Professional
ACSM COVID-19 Reopening and Return to Play Resources
ACSM COVID-19 Faculty Resources for Virtual Teaching

Blogs

Staying Active During COVID-19 by Liz Joy, M.D., M.P.H., FACSM, FAMSSM
Physical Activity, COVID-19 and Older Adults by the EIM Older Adults Committee; Kate Edwards, Ph.D.; Garrett Kellar, Ed.D.; David Marquez, Ph.D.; Jeff Schlicht, Ph.D.
COVID-19, Exercise, Children and their Developing Immune System by Shlomit Radom-Aizik, Ph.D.
- Spanish Version
A Call to Action: Physical Activity and COVID-19 by Jim Sallis, Ph.D., FACSM and Mike Pratt, M.D. M.P.H., FACSM
- Spanish Version
A Clinician’s Thoughts about Self Care and Physical Activity during COVID by Keri Denay, M.D., FACSM
Exercise, Immunity and the COVID-19 Pandemic by Richard J. Simpson, Ph.D., FACSM
- Spanish Version
Life in the Post-COVID Era: One Physician's Perspective on How to Think Forward by Robert Zarr, M.D., M.P.H., Founder of Park Rx America
Being Active Now - A Different Spin by Robyn Stuhr, M.A., ACSM-CEP, RCEP
Why Keep this COVID-19 Remedy a Secret? by James F. Sallis, Ph.D., FACSM and Michael Pratt, M.D. M.P.H. FACSM

Podcasts

Exercise Increases Immune Function - How We Know by David Nieman, Dr.P.H., FACSM

Articles

Stéphane Bermon, M.D., Ph.D., et al.: Consensus Statement Immunotrition and Exercise (from “a panel of knowledgeable contributors from across the globe”)
Stephen A. Martin, Brandt D. Pence, and Jeffrey A. Woods: Exercise and Respiratory Tract Viral Infections
David Nieman, Dr.P.H. and Laurel Wentz, Ph.D..: The compelling link between physical activity and the body's defense system
Robert Sallis, M.D., et al.: Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes: a study in 48 440 adult patients
Richard Simpson, Ph.D. and Emmanuel Katsanis, M.D.: The immunological case for staying active during the COVID-19 pandemic
Richard Simpson, Ph.D., et al.: Can exercise affect immune function to increase susceptibility to infection?
Weimo Zhu: Should, and how can, exercise be done during a coronavirus outbreak? An interview with Dr. Jeffrey A. Woods

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COVID-19 and Exercise

Resources and support for keeping your patients or clients active during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Web Resources

Blogs

Podcasts

Articles