Exercise is Medicine

An Essential Strategy for Patient Health

Physical INactivity is one of the most important public health problems of the 21st century. Physical inactivity can result in similar health consequences to the established risk factors of smoking and obesity and is a key risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and cancer.

The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report summarizes the strong evidence that physical inactivity shortens life expectancy and increases the risk of many adverse health conditions. Among its many benefits, regular physical activity:

Lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type II diabetes and excessive weight gain;
Prevents several types of cancer (breast, colon, bladder, endometrium esophagus, kidney, lung and stomach);
In those who already have chronic disease, decreases the risk of developing a new chronic condition and reduces the risk of progression of their current condition;
Reduces the risk of clinical depression and depressive symptoms, improves sleep quantity and quality, reduces anxiety symptoms, and lowers the risk of dementia;
Improves health regardless of body weight or the amount of weight lost;
Delays the effects of aging, reduces falls, and improves functional capacity and quality of life.

The largest health benefits occur when inactive people become moderately active. Even if an individual cannot meet the recommendations in this prescription, performing any level of activity is beneficial. More sedentary time is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular incidence and mortality, so encourage your patients to reduce screen time, use active forms of transportation (walking, biking), and break periods of extended sitting with short bouts of physical activity, or even standing.

Ideally, physical activity programs include a variety of exercises that include muscle strengthening, aerobic activity, flexibility training, and neuromotor fitness (i.e., balance). If a patient is new to exercise, it might be best to focus on a simple aerobic activity such as walking. Refer your patients to programs in their local community or appropriately credentialed exercise professionals to help them get started.

A good mantra for beginning exercisers is: “Start where you are. Do what you can. Use what you have.”

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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:

Lowers the risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type II diabetes and excessive weight gain;
Prevents several types of cancer (breast, colon, bladder, endometrium esophagus, kidney, lung and stomach);
In those who already have chronic disease, decreases the risk of developing a new chronic condition and reduces the risk of progression of their current condition;
Reduces the risk of clinical depression and depressive symptoms, improves sleep quantity and quality, reduces anxiety symptoms, and lowers the risk of dementia;
Improves health regardless of body weight or the amount of weight lost;
Delays the effects of aging, reduces falls, and improves functional capacity and quality of life.

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Physical Activity

An Essential Strategy for Patient Health

A good mantra for beginning exercisers is: “Start where you are. Do what you can. Use what you have.”

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