Exercise is Medicine

A Global Hope for Change: Exercise is Medicine

Physical inactivity is a leading cause of death worldwide and is a major risk factor for chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and several cancers. According to the World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030:

“Worldwide, 1 in 4 adults, and 3 in 4 adolescents do not currently meet the global recommendations for physical activity. As countries develop economically, levels of inactivity increase and can be as high as 70%.
The global cost of physical inactivity in 2013 was estimated to be INT$ 54 billion per year in direct health care with an additional INT$ 14 billion attributable to lost productivity.”

When considering the relationship between physical activity (PA) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), it is clear that health care providers should be routinely advocating adequate physical activity and that health care entities should contribute to a systems-based solution. Research is needed to answer several important questions:

How can PA counseling and referral schemes be optimally implemented as an effective component of health care practices and adapted/modified for large scale implementation in health care systems?
What are the costs to health care systems and insurers associated with inadequate levels of physical activity in patients/covered lives?
What are the potential health outcomes and savings involved with the integration of PA assessment, counseling and referral when integrated into health care settings?

Exercise is Medicine (EIM) is working to advance research in this area and highlight existing science. American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) scientists and clinicians share research findings and best practices annually at the EIM World Congress and ACSM Annual Meeting as well as through published works.

Learn more on the webpages below:

Physical activity and health outcomes - prevention and treatment
EIM Research Learning Collaborative
Physical activity in health care – integration and cost-effectiveness

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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?

“Worldwide, 1 in 4 adults, and 3 in 4 adolescents do not currently meet the global recommendations for physical activity. As countries develop economically, levels of inactivity increase and can be as high as 70%.
The global cost of physical inactivity in 2013 was estimated to be INT$ 54 billion per year in direct health care with an additional INT$ 14 billion attributable to lost productivity.”

How can PA counseling and referral schemes be optimally implemented as an effective component of health care practices and adapted/modified for large scale implementation in health care systems?
What are the costs to health care systems and insurers associated with inadequate levels of physical activity in patients/covered lives?
What are the potential health outcomes and savings involved with the integration of PA assessment, counseling and referral when integrated into health care settings?

Learn more on the webpages below:

Physical activity and health outcomes - prevention and treatment
EIM Research Learning Collaborative
Physical activity in health care – integration and cost-effectiveness

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A Global Hope for Change: Exercise is Medicine

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