Task Force Member Receives National Leadership Award
6/22/2009
The American College of Sports Medicine is pleased to congratulate and recognize Exercise is Medicine™ task force member Edward Phillips, M.D., as a recipient of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Community Leadership Award for 2009. This award is given out annually to individuals who improve the lives of individuals within his/her community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activities or fitness-related programs.
Phillips is currently the director of the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He has stayed active in advocating for exercise prescription and behavior change by co-authoring “ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine™, A Clinician's Guide to Exercise Prescription,” available for purchase here.
EIM to Become Regular Feature in International Journal
6/17/2009
Exercise is Medicine™ (EIM) continues to gain global exposure with a new opportunity from the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM). EIM task force members will provide commentary on the EIM initiative and reinforce the importance of physical activity to health in each bi-monthly issue of the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM), BASEM’s official peer review journal for health professionals and researchers in sport and exercise medicine.
Two EIM task force members were featured in the January 2009 issue of BJSM. Steven N. Blair, P.E.D., FACSM, and Robert E. Sallis, M.D., FACSM, wrote pieces on research promoting the importance of physical activity and integrating exercise prescription to the health care system. To read the full articles, click here.
EIM's Message Reaches Times Square
6/15/2009
As a part of the closing bell ceremony at the NASDAQ stock market on May 6, 2009, the American College of Sports Medicine introduced Exercise is Medicine™ (EIM) to New York City and the world via the NASDAQ MarketSite Tower, a seven-stories-tall electronic display in Times Square. To watch the full EIM promotional video, click play below.
ACSM Addresses U.S. and World Business Community at NASDAQ Stock Market Close
National organization uses international stage to promote health benefits of physical activity and exercise with emphasis on productivity gains and health care cost reduction for businesses
5/14/2009
(Please see below for photos.)
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the world’s largest sports medicine and exercise organization, rang the closing bell at the NASDAQ stock market last week (Wednesday, May 6), using the international platform to promote the health benefits of physical activity, especially for businesses and employers in the U.S. and worldwide.
As one of the world leaders in the science and medical aspects of health promotion and disease prevention related to physical activity, a delegation of ACSM health experts participated in the closing bell ceremony in New York City and addressed corporate leaders gathered at NASDAQ and worldwide through business media coverage of the event. Remarks by ACSM President Mindy Millard-Stafford, Ph.D., FACSM focused on the profound health benefits of physical activity, as well as ACSM’s commitment to improving health in order to contribute to stronger economies and countries worldwide.
ACSM also used the opportunity to introduce to a new audience Exercise is Medicine™ (EIM), an international public health program which calls for exercise to be a standard part of health care. EIM encourages the public and patients to speak with their doctors about an appropriate level of exercise, plan their exercise regimen, track it and stick to it. (Watch this video aboutExercise is Medicine™)
“ACSM’s opportunity to close the NASDAQ was a historic moment of recognition for this organization’s dedication to physical activity and public health,” said Millard-Stafford. “Physical activity is part of the equation contributing to optimal health. Our members' research has proven that fitness improves the health of citizens worldwide in addition to increasing worker productivity and job performance.”
Exercise and physical activity have been shown to have powerful preventive and curative effects on numerous chronic conditions, including heart disease, type II diabetes, high blood pressure, and more. Studies have also shown that leading a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity decreases absenteeism and improves concentration during work hours.
ACSM has been working with U.S. political leaders to place a greater emphasis on the gains possible for businesses that encourage their employees to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle. Following the NASDAQ event, President Obama held a news conference that underscored that worksite wellness programs will be an important part of health care reform legislation that will be considered this summer.
ACSM’s remarks and video were featured on the NASDAQ MarketSite Tower, a seven-stories-tall electronic display in Times Square. For more information on the ceremony, or to watch a video featuring commentary on ACSM’s leadership in public health from NASDAQ Vice President, David Wicks, click here. (Windows Media Player format.)
Representatives from the American College of Sports Medicine were featured on the NASDAQ video screen in Times Square as part of the closing bell ceremony. ACSM President Mindy Millard-Stafford (center), Ph.D., FACSM spoke about the benefits of physical activity.
ACSM used the NASDAQ platform to promote the preventive and curative effects of exercise on numerous chronic conditions, such as heart disease and high blood pressure.
Exercise is Medicine™ Month is Here!
5/1/09
It's time to make it happen:
Exercise is Medicine™ Month is here! May is the special recognition month for EIM and a time for health care providers, health and fitness professionals, the public, and supporting organizations and constituents to recognize, emphasize and celebrate the valuable health benefits of exercise on a national scale.
More than 30 governors and mayors have declared May as EIM Month in their state or city. EIM advocates across the country are celebrating with a special event, by making an appointment to discuss physical activity with a health care provider, or just by encouraging others to get active. Here are a few simple things you can do today:
Have your state and city officials proclaimed May as EIM Month? If not, help us out by requesting a proclamation.
Download the Action and Promotion Toolkit to learn how to incorporate physical activity into your life and plan an EIM event or activity.
Sign up your event or activity for EIM Month by clicking "Join Us" at the top of this page.
Click the image to view all Exercise is Medicine™ Month proclamations.
Exercise is Medicine™ Introduces New Toolkit for Special Events, Promotion
3/24/09
ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine™ initiative has introduced a new toolkit for physicians, fitness professionals, members of the public, organizations and businesses. The Exercise is Medicine™ Action and Promotion Toolkit provides action steps, information and resources about how to incorporate physical activity into your life. In this toolkit, you’ll also find tips and tools to plan your own Exercise is Medicine™ local event or activity during Exercise is Medicine™ Month in May or throughout the year, including a PowerPoint slide deck. Access the toolkit here.
ACSM and the Italian Sports Medicine Federation to Launch Exercise is Medicine™ - Italia and Other Initiatives
3/10/2009
ACSM has announced a partnership with the Italian Sports Medicine Federation (Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana, FMSI) that will focus on research and the development of joint protocols in the field of sports medicine in Italy. As one feature of the partnership, FMSI will also support and promote the Exercise is Medicine™ initiative in Italy.
Recently, Exercise is Medicine™ chairman Robert E. Sallis, M.D., M.P.H., FACSM, received the Leonardo da Vinci Award for Sports Medicine Leadership from FMSI. This is the highest honor awarded by FMSI and reflects their support for Exercise is Medicine and its principles.
The award was presented to Sallis during the 32nd National Congress of the Federazione Medico Sportiva Italiana held in Turin, Italy on Feb. 19-22. Sallis presented "Exercise is Medicine - Physical Activity as a Medicine" as the keynote lecture for the conference.
"This is a very important agreement for the FMSI. We are all very excited by the idea of working with the ACSM to promote sports medicine and science around the world," said FMSI President Maurizio Casasco.
FMSI, founded in 1929, is the only official medical federation recognized by the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) and the only sports medicine scientific association registered with the Federation of Italian Scientific Societies.
ACSM Partnership will Combat Childhood Obesity, Get Kids Active
ACSM and Youth Fitness Coalition join to promote youth fitness
2/26/2009
In an effort to decrease the prevalence of childhood obesity and promote physical activity to children, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has announced a partnership with the Youth Fitness Coalition (YFC). This partnership will feature ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine™ initiative, designed to encourage America’s patients to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routine, and YFC’s signature program, Project ACES (All Children Exercise Simultaneously).
Created in 1989 by physical education teacher Len Saunders as a method of motivating children to exercise, Project ACES Day takes place on the first Wednesday each May as part of National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and National Physical Education Week. In the past, it has been labeled as “the world's largest exercise class.” Project ACES Clubs continue to promote physical activity all year long by pledging to create youth fitness programs in their schools.
“For more than 20 years, Project ACES’ programs have been organized and conducted by the YFC and have involved millions of children, parents and teachers in every state and more than 45 countries,” said H.J. Saunders, YFC Founder and President.
Project ACES Day on May 6 coincides with Exercise is Medicine™ Month, a time for physicians, health and fitness professionals, the public, and supporting organizations and their constituents to recognize, emphasize and celebrate the valuable health benefits of exercise on a national scale.
In 2008, many states, including Florida, Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Connecticut and Iowa proclaimed May as Exercise is Medicine™ month. Several cities also have pledged support by creating events featuring the initiative's principles, including Indianapolis; Tallahassee, Fla.; Eugene, Ore.; and several cities in Texas.
“The principles of Exercise is Medicine center around the importance of physical activity,” said Robert Sallis, M.D., FACSM. “Project ACES really fits well with the goals of Exercise is Medicine, and I think this will be a very valuable tool in our effort to reach out to children and their parents worldwide.”
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 engage in 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day, including aerobic, muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening exercises.
“This partnership is an important action item in a long list of steps we’re taking to address the issue of youth fitness and health, and is indicative of our commitment to the issue at large,” said James R. Whitehead, ACSM Executive Vice President. “Exercise is Medicine is the perfect venue for our involvement with Project ACES.”
Physicians, other health care providers encouraged to effectively prescribe exercise
2/17/2009
Your next prescription may not be as costly as your last, as you may leave the doctor’s office with a prescription to exercise. As part of the nationally recognized program asking physicians worldwide to prescribe physical activity to their patients, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) today announced the publication of “ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine™: A Clinician’s Guide to Exercise Prescription.”
The Exercise is Medicine™ initiative creates a forum for physicians and their patients to interact about personal health benefits that may be achieved through exercise and physical activity. In the book, authors Steven Jonas, M.D., MPH, M.S., and Edward M. Phillips, M.D., craft a comprehensive physicians’ guide to prescribing exercise to patients.
“ACSM’s Exercise is Medicine™: A Clinician’s Guide to Exercise Prescription” explains how to design practical exercise programs for otherwise healthy patients of all ages and fitness levels, as well as those with special conditions such as pregnancy, obesity, and cancer. The book also includes in-depth discussions of both the lifestyle approach to exercising regularly and the structured exercise approach.
“This book serves as a resource for physicians, while providing the unique opportunity for health care professionals to personalize the benefits of physical activity to each patient,” said Phillips. “As physicians, we only have a limited amount of time we can spend with each patient. This book is a simple guide for using this short time to effectively speak about physical activity.”
“Three-Minute Drills”—which cover the theory and practice of promoting regular exercise with patients, in small, manageable segments—are one feature of the publication written for health care professionals with limited time or resources.
According to Phillips, the chapters on mobilizing patient motivation are particularly significant. “Only your physician knows your particular background and medical history,” Phillips said. “Your physician can give you the basic message to get physically active, but motivation is central to the whole idea.”
ACSM guidelines and recommendations on exercise and exercise-related issues are utilized in the book. Other contributors include Jennifer Capell, PT, MSc, MPH; Evonne Kaplan-Liss, M.D., MPH; and Mary Ellen Renna, M.D.
Supporters of the book include the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport and ACSM immediate past President Robert E. Sallis, M.D., FACSM, who launched the Exercise is Medicine program during his presidency.
Sallis writes, “The cost of inactivity is staggering, with an estimated 250,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S. directly attributed to inactivity and the costs of medical care for inactive patients dwarfing that required to care for active ones.”
The book debuts on March 2, 2009 from publisherLippincott Williams & Wilkins. To pre-order a copy of the book, please visit www.lww.com or call 1-800-638-3030. Book excerpts are available to the media upon request. Please contact Kim Jackson at kjackson@acsm.org or 317-352-3818 for more information.
EIM Advocates Publish Articles in British Journal of Sports Medicine
2/16/2009
Two articles written by Exercise is Medicine™ task force members were recently published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Steven N. Blair, P.E.D., FACSM, and Robert E. Sallis, M.D., FACSM, both wrote articles for the January 2009 issue, which focused on physical inactivity.
Blair wrote an introductory piece on research promoting the importance of physical activity. Blair presented data on risk factors and the science behind the conclusion that physical inactivity is an urgent and significant public health concern. Sallis’ editorial focuses on integrating exercise prescription to the health care system and introduces the Exercise is Medicine™ initiative. To read full text versions of these articles, click on the links below.
Public toolkit provides step-by-step guide to talking to health care provider about physical activity
1/30/2009
Exercise is Medicine™ is proud to announce the release of the EIM public toolkit, a simple, fast and effective tool for using exercise as a ‘medicine’ to help prevent or manage many of the most common chronic health conditions. The public toolkit will also help you approach your health care provider to discuss physical activity as a part of a disease prevention and management strategy.
Highlights of the public toolkit include physical activity guidelines and recommendations, exercise assessment tests, a sample note to health care providers, the Your Prescription for Health series, links to videos and more.
Click here or on the "Public" tab on the left side of this page to download the Exercise is Medicine™ public toolkit.
New Exercise is Medicine™ PSA's available for your use
1/08/2009
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is pleased to introduce a new public service announcement (PSA) series available for your use as an Exercise is Medicine™ supporter.
ACSM has partnered with the U.S. Office of the Surgeon General to create PSAs promoting the Exercise is Medicine™ initiative. The PSAs feature the acting surgeon general, Rear Admiral Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., and a message encouraging physical activity.
Choose the version that best suits your needs, and please publish on your Web site, in your publications, or any other print purposes (flyers, handouts) to promote Exercise is Medicine™.
Permission is granted for all use contingent upon notification to ACSM (publicinfo@acsm.org) of your publication plans or schedules.
AMA Immediate Past President and EIM Co-Founder Ronald Davis Loses Battle with Cancer
12/30/2008
Ronald Davis, M.D., American Medical Association (AMA) Immediate Past President and Exercise is Medicine™ co-founder, passed away on Nov. 6, 2008, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in February.
“We were deeply saddened to learn of Ron's passing, profoundly honored to have known him and unwaveringly convinced his legacy will live forever in the multitude of people, organizations and causes he influenced,” said Jim Whitehead, Executive Vice President of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Davis, who developed the Exercise is Medicine™ concept in conjunction with ACSM Past President Robert Sallis, M.D., FACSM, most recently served as the director for the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at the Henry Ford Health System. In tandem with his dedication to public health, Davis was also an author, educator, expert witness to Congress and leader of numerous public health initiatives.
Throughout his years of service to the medical community, Davis was awarded the Surgeon General’s Exemplary Service Medal and the Surgeon General’s Medallion, The American College of Preventive Medicine’s Distinguished Service Award, and the American Thoracic Society’s Distinguished Service Award, among many other accolades.
“Shortly after his cancer diagnosis, Ron gave a talk to a medical society conference while walking on a treadmill on stage,” Whitehead said. “This is just one of many examples of Ron's commitment and innovative style with health promotion.”
ACSM plans to create memorial funds in Davis' honor. Please check back soon for more information on how to contribute to Davis' legacy.
EIM connects with USPTA for Tennis - for the health of it!
12/15/2008
On May 9, 2008, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) partnered with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), the world's oldest and largest association of tennis-teaching professionals. ACSM's Exercise is Medicine initiative and USPTA's Tennis - for the health of it! program are working together to promote tennis as an alternative form of exercise for those who many not want to run or lift weights but are looking for the health benefits of exercise. To read an article about the health benefits of tennis, click here.
Robert E. Sallis presents Exercise is Medicine™ at Ironman World Championship
10/07/2008
American College of Sports Medicine immediate past president Robert E. Sallis, M.D., FACSM, spoke about Exercise is Medicine at the Kona Community Hospital as a part of the 2008 Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Sallis serves as the chairman of the IronMan Sports Medicine Symposium.
In this DVD program Dr. Sallis presents the concepts, data, and tools that define this groundbreaking program, as well as a description of the extensive nationwide support for Exercise is Medicine.
View a preview of this DVD above, and order a full copy of the DVD here.
Robert E. Sallis Given President's Council Award
09/16/2008
Robert E. Sallis, M.D., FACSM, (above) was recently honored with the 2008 Community Leadership Award from the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
According to the Council's Web site , the award is given annually to no more than 50 individuals across the country who improve the lives of those within his or her community by providing or enhancing opportunities to engage in sports, physical activities or fitness-related programs.
Sallis led the development of Exercise is Medicine. "I'm excited to be recognized by them," Sallis said. "Their primary goal is trying to increase physical activity among Americans, and I think that's critically important. I think there needs to be a merging of the fitness industry and medical industry."
Exercise is Medicine™ and California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
05/2008
For a copy of this DVD, please e-mail EIM@acsm.org with your name and mailing address.
