Understanding ‘Exercise Prescription’: How It Can Benefit You
Engaging in exercise can be a powerful method for preventing or managing numerous diseases. A medical professional’s ‘prescription’ for exercise can guide patients in achieving their health objectives.
It is such a critical resource for health promotion that the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) highlights the need to treat physical activity as a vital sign during each medical appointment. While some healthcare providers have begun to assess their patients’ exercise habits and offer personalized “exercise prescriptions,” the majority are still hesitant to implement this practice. Here’s why they ought to.
Increase Movement, Enhance Life
Physical inactivity significantly contributes to various serious health issues, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, anxiety, depression, and several types of cancer. Enhancing one’s fitness level can effectively decrease the likelihood of developing these conditions and promote “side benefits” such as improved sleep quality, enhanced memory, and better cognitive abilities.
A review published in Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice highlights that in 2013, physical inactivity (as opposed to obesity) was the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. Furthermore, a 2016 study in Circulation indicated that low cardiorespiratory fitness—the capacity of an individual’s cardiovascular and respiratory systems to deliver oxygen to cells—“is a potentially stronger indicator of mortality than established risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.” Other authorities have labeled physical inactivity as “the most significant public health issue of the 21st century.”
The Impact of Exercise on Prescription
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“The notion of an ‘exercise prescription’ (ExRx)—where doctors formally instruct exercise just like they would with medication—is becoming increasingly popular,” Saifullah shared. “This approach is grounded in substantial research demonstrating the efficacy of exercise for averting and managing a wide array of health issues.”
Obstacles to Exercise Prescription
Despite improved awareness of the advantages of exercise and the risks related to inactivity, many doctors do not inquire about their patients’ exercise habits or promote behavioral changes accordingly. Various factors may contribute to this.
“Many doctors refrain from writing exercise prescriptions due to time limitations, insufficient training in exercise science, and a preference for medication-oriented treatments,” Saifullah explained. “Creating a genuine exercise prescription necessitates assessing the patient’s physical status, designing a safe and effective plan, and tracking their progress over time—all of which takes significantly more time than simply prescribing a medication.”
The Doctor Will See You Now–for a Walk
Some practitioners, like Dr. David Sabgir, a cardiologist based in Ohio, have taken an innovative route to tackle this challenge by exercising alongside their patients.
This initiative consists of a doctor delivering a brief talk on a health topic, followed by a leisurely walk at each participant’s own pace.
How to Request an Exercise Prescription
Modifying established habits concerning exercise can be challenging. Nevertheless, there is evidence that discussions between primary care providers and their patients regarding physical activity and offering an ExRx can yield favorable outcomes. “When exercise is afforded the same level of importance as a medication prescription, patients typically take it more seriously,” noted Saifullah. “They are more inclined to engage in exercise when it is structured as a specified regimen they need to adhere to.”
Many patients genuinely seek their physician’s support. Australian writer Stacey Harder recounted her personal journey with The Epoch Times, stating, “Having struggled through weight loss for years, I’ve often been told by doctors to lose weight, but without tailored, practical guidelines, it feels more like a vague prompt than a well-supported health objective. … For individuals facing health threats linked to obesity—such as heart disease and diabetes—a partnership with a physician could truly be transformative.”
Patients may not realize that they can actively request an exercise prescription from their physician. “Patients should not hesitate to request an exercise prescription if they are interested,” Saifullah emphasized. They “can seek a specific outline or a referral to a specialist in exercise-centered treatment, such as a physical therapist or exercise physiologist,” he pointed out. “Both patients and doctors should feel empowered to consider ExRx as a viable option, as it could serve as a highly beneficial element of preventive and therapeutic care.”
