AusLeisure

Advising that “exercise is the best, cheapest and most accessible medicine available, and in order to improve chronic disease mortality rates, people need to move more”, Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) is this week promoting ‘Exercise Right for Doctors Week’, a campaign aimed at educating doctors, nurses and health care professionals about the benefits of prescribing exercise as medicine.

Despite the vast research supporting this notion, ESSA Chief Executive, Anita Hobson-Powell feels that many Australian doctors still aren’t talking to their patients about their physical activity levels, commenting “during Exercise Right for Doctors Week, we’re offering access to free online education - accredited with the RACGP, APNA an ACRRM - that’s all about prescribing exercise as medicine.

“At the end of the day, we want to encourage and empower doctors, especially GPs, to include a physical activity or exercise assessment as part of their interaction with every patient.”

Emergency doctor, Dr Ash Bowden, says that he always makes a point of counselling his patients on the benefits of exercise, explaining “if more focus was placed on prevention in medicine, especially with free tools like exercise, we could see fewer mental health presentations, fewer cardiorespiratory complications, fewer elderly falls, fewer cancers and fewer cancer-related complications - amongst so much else.

“Unlike medication, exercise should be taken by everyone; it can be ‘dosed’ and modified for anyone and it’ll help no matter the illness. I’ll focus my enthusiasm on something else when you can show me it’s better than this."

For patients living with chronic conditions, mental health issues, cancer, chronic pain and a wide range of other complications, it’s crucial that doctors also understand the importance of referring to the right exercise professional.

Hobson-Powell adds “accredited exercise physiologists are the experts of exercise and are the best placed allied health professionals for prescribing exercise to those living with chronic conditions. They are university-qualified to prescribe exercise as medicine to anyone who is living with a chronic health condition, which currently, is approximately half of all Australians.

“A referral from a doctor or GP is one of the easiest ways for Australians to gain subsidised access to an Accredited Exercise Physiologist.”

Exercise and physical activity are crucial for maintaining physical and mental health and play a vital role in reducing the disease burden in Australia.

Encouraging doctor to prescribe exercise as medicine to patients, Hobson-Powell concludes “it’s our hope that by helping to educate medical professionals, more Australians wills have access to the right advice when it comes to moving more.”

To find out more about Exercise Right for Doctors, as well as access the range of free education and resources, visit the Exercise Right website at www.exerciseright.com.au/exercise-right-doctors/

Related Articles

12th November 2021 - ASTN and ESSA announce partnership to drive innovation in sport science and technology

11th November 2021 - Expanding Club Active meets exercise demands of growing over 50s market

8th November 2021 - Fitness Australia questions NSW Government’s ongoing restrictions on group exercise

8th November 2021 - ESSA supports policy statement for allied health professionals on vaccine requirements

4th November 2021 - Facebook acquires VR fitness developer Supernatural

4th November 2021 - Asia-Pacific Health, Fitness & Wellness Summit confirms final speakers

28th October 2021 - Global Wellness Summit reports that fighting overtourism moves from talk to action   

21st October 2021 - 2021 Fitness Australia Award winners announced

28th September 2021 - NZReps highlights the benefits of exercise for children these school holidays

15th September 2021 - ESSA launch statement on the role of physical activity in the management of obesity in adults

15th September 2021 - Clean Health and National Academy of Sports Medicine announce personal trainer certification collaboration

12th September 2021 - Decoding the mental health benefits of exercise

7th September 2021 - ESSA marks Women’s Health Week by encouraging women to exercise for the right reasons

2nd September 2021 - Global Wellness Summit reports on visitation surge to fitness centres and wellness destinations

20th August 2021 - Fitness Australia slams Northern Territory Government’s decision to keep gyms closed

29th July 2021 - Fitness Australia advises of concessions achieved for gym reopenings

21st July 2021 - Fitness Australia calls for ‘JobKeeper 2.0’ as Coronavirus lockdowns widen

15th June 2021 - ESSA marks Men’s Health Week with launch of free eBook

20th May 2021 - FIBO becomes a member of ‘Exercise is Medicine’ initiative

20th May 2021 - ESSA reminds Australians that exercise can change lives

12th May 2021 - Sport Canterbury-based Green Prescription team designs series of winter walks

2nd February 2021 - ESSA celebrates 30th anniversary of supporting health through exercise

23rd November 2020 - Exercise Right for Doctors Week campaign highlights need for more doctors to prescribe exercise for Australians

17th November 2020 - ESSA partners with 10,000 Steps to encourage participation in the After Work Walk campaign

3rd November 2020 - ESSA releases free ebook promoting physical activity benefits for older adults

16th June 2020 - ESSA highlights the importance of movement for men’s mental health

10th June 2020 - ESSA urges a considered return to the gym

23rd March 2020 - ESSA launches campaign promoting physical activity during COVID-19

6th December 2019 - Fitness Australia business members rank ‘Exercise is Medicine’ as the hottest industry trend for 2020

10th May 2019 - ESSA focuses on Active Ageing during Exercise Right Week 2019

5th March 2019 - Sports Medicine Australia names Craig Knox as new Chief Executive

5th February 2019 - ESSA’s Exercise Right secures Active Ageing program funding

29th November 2018 - ESSA highlights the key role of physical activity in breaking down disability barriers

29th October 2017 - Arts on prescription can help deliver wellness outcomes

22nd August 2017 - Doctors in England ‘unconfident’ discussing physical activity with patients

16th July 2016 - Green Prescriptions helping young people get more active

23rd May 2016 - ESSA urges Australians to undertake the right kind of exercise

11th May 2015 - Exercise is a proven ‘medicine’ for cancer

18th February 2015 - New Zealand moves forward with green prescriptions

20th May 2011 - Doctors to prescribe exercise as medicine

23rd February 2011 - Exercise prescription and PT business software for fitness

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.