| Exercise Tips For Your Patients |
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 They say they're too busy, too out of
shape, too old, or too sick to exercise. When excuses start to fly,
give them this handout.Getting inactive patients to exercise can be a challenge. Sometimes you may wonder if it's even worth your time to try to win them over. It's not that they reject your message of the importance of fitness to good health. Many are just skeptical of their ability to start an exercise program and stick with it long enough to make a difference. Your first job is to change that attitude. You have to help
patients make the little changes in their behavior that will give them
the reinforcement they need to continue exercising until it becomes a
daily habit.
As a doctor, you have more
influence than you may think. A national study reported that patients
whose doctors advised them to exercise and provided follow-up support
were more likely to meet public health recommendations of 30 minutes of
moderate exercise five times a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise
three times a week. Patients expect to receive preventive healthcare
advice from you. So take advantage of that expectation. Show them how
to succeed in an exercise program with some of the tips offered by West
Hills, CA, family physician Gil L. Solomon, himself an athlete. Then
give them this handout. It contains more of Solomon's commonsense
advice and encouragement for patients who would like to exchange the
couch and TV remote for a more-active and healthy lifestyle. |
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