Exercise Medicine: A Specialty that Complements Regular Health Care

By Daniel K. Halvorsen II, M.S., Ph.D.

When most of us think of treatment for disease, we might think of pills, injections, even surgery, but "exercise" is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But, the right kind of exercise can help treat and even cure serious medical conditions.

In American society, where inactivity and overeating are pervasive, there has been a doubling of the number of obese individuals in the last 10 years; today, 35 percent of the U.S. population is obese. With this increase, have come more weight-related ailments, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because being overweight or obese is becoming the norm, many people don't realize how unfit and unhealthy they have become. Today, it is not uncommon for health-care providers to be unable to weigh patients because patient weights exceed the capacity of the scale. And, when offered a pedometer, patients are often surprised to learn they take only about 1,000 steps a day when 10,000 are recommended.

The specialty of exercise medicine developed, in part, as a way to address the health issues created by increasing obesity and inactivity. A specialist in the relatively new field of exercise medicine may help develop a helpful exercise regimen for a person's condition. To do this, he or she works closely with a patient's primary care physician.

The idea behind exercise medicine is that exercise can complement the treatment of disease. It is intended to supplement, not replace, regular health care. Although it seems apparent that regular exercise can treat obesity, the right kind of exercise can also be effective as a treatment for: diabetes; peripheral artery disease; mental illnesses, such as depression and attention deficit disorder; asthma and other respiratory conditions; chronic fatigue; and some cancers.

In addition, the benefits the average healthy person gets from exercise include: improved cardiovascular fitness, better mood, more self-confidence, increased energy, stronger bones, increased muscle strength, and more flexibility.

But, when someone is suffering from an illness, exercise can play a special healing role. The exercise program that an exercise medicine specialist may advocate will vary depending on the condition to be treated and the desires of the patients.

For example, we recently had a teenager who was almost totally incapacitated because of severe depression. In working with her primary care physician, we developed a walking program for her that showed dramatic results. With encouragement and a specially designed program that slowly increased the walking requirement, she emerged from the depression.

At the University of Minnesota, researchers are looking at how age and disease affect the body's response to exercise at the cellular level. The knowledge that comes from this research could one day improve specialists' ability tailor exercise regimens for each individual based on their age and condition.

You can spark the discussion about how exercise may supplement your current health care by asking your physician to assess your level of fitness. You should also ask yourself if you are satisfied with your health, energy, fitness, and performance of physical activity. If you are not satisfied, you might consider consulting your physician about starting an exercise program or asking about getting a referral to see an exercise medicine specialist.

Note: Daniel K. Halvorsen II, M.S., Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology at the University of Minnesota Medical School.

Health Talk & You is an educational service of the University of Minnesota. Advice presented should not take the place of an examination by a health-care professional. For more health-related information, go to http://www.healthtalk.umn.edu/. For comments or questions about Health Talk & You e-mail lafor016@umn.edu.