Prescription
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Once a baseline level of activity is documented, an exercise prescription can be used to enhance the likelihood that your patient will actually begin to exercise. Indeed, several studies have shown that written exercise prescriptions are more effective than verbal suggestions to exercise. Research also indicates that:
Tailored exercise prescriptions based on number of steps are generally more useful than time-based suggestions (e.g., walk for 30 minutes per day).
Start with a baseline level of exercise and add 500-1000 steps per day, or as patients achieve their specific goals.
On the right is a simple example of an exercise prescription. Feel free to add whatever embellishments seem appropriate to you. Note, however, that exercise prescriptions are most effective when written using the same style and format as medication prescriptions.
Recent studies suggest that exercise is almost impossible to sustain if patients rely upon external reasons to exercise (e.g., weight loss, health benefits) (Segar, 2008). Therefore, physicians should recommend to patients that they document whatever intrinsic rewards of exercising that they experience (e.g., improved mood, endorphin rush, increased energy, decreased stress, etc.).