Debate: How should doctors prescribe exercise to ensure compliance and engagement?

Table 2. Neurobiological benefits of exercise. How to Effectively Prescribe Exercise (Psychiatric Times): Exercise can be a useful tool in managing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Learn how you can integrate exercise prescriptions into your treatment plans. While most of us appreciate its importance, we also recognize that avoidance is exceedingly common. Too often patients hear the word exercise and develop an aversive reaction, as they anticipate that it involves intensive training reserved only for the athletically elite. So how can one simply and effectively counsel a patient on exercise to increase their chances of engagement? After condensing the information in the literature and combing it with strategies for compliance, we feel it is possible to come up with sample exercise prescriptions. For example, a patient with low exercise tolerance and motivation could be prescribed 30 minutes of moderate walking … Since the mood benefits of exercise have often been shown to be intensity independent, it is more than possible to work within the patient’s exercise tolerance and physical limits. In addition, it can be beneficial to discuss with patients the neurobiological changes seen during exercise that may contribute to elevation of mood and improved cognition…An exercise prescription is an important treatment option and a great adjunct to medications. The key is prescribing physical activity in a way that the patient will comply and remain engaged with. Recent Study...
Source: SharpBrains - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Tags: Brain/ Mental Health anxiety depression exercise neurobiological neuroplasticity Neuropsychology Physical-activity stress and coping. Source Type: blogs