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For some populations, exercise is a health need – just like antibiotics or surgery – not a lifestyle choice Defending exercise prescription Justin Rogers and Adam Hewitt, Ten Health and Fitness We read the interview with Dr Natasha Jones and Suzi Gardener (HCM issue 1, 2022) where they discuss their recent report The Benefits Outweigh the Risk, which outlines the benefits vs risks of physical activity – particularly for clients with medical conditions. It was a valuable reminder of some of the key gaps – whether understanding, competence or awareness – that exist within the fitness and medical sectors. These gaps leave millions of people with long-term conditions and co-morbidities without the support they need to make meaningful changes to their health and quality of life through exercise. The interview in HCM shines a light on some longstanding concerns, one of the most significant of which is that the fitness industry is primarily designed to get fit people fitter and is not structured to support those whose medical conditions would benefit from physical activity in their lives. 12
Issue 2 2022 ©Cybertrek 2022
The vast inconsistency in qualifications and expertise across the fitness sector is a major contributing factor when it comes to this issue, although this was beyond the scope of the interview. Another challenge is the need for more clinicians and fitness professionals to adopt a rounded view of the individual. Too many in both sectors still struggle to see beyond their own specialisms – medics know the importance of exercise for patients with clinical issues, but lack the knowledge to prescribe it effectively or the time to address patient concerns or objections, while within much of the fitness and rehab industry, the lack of expertise and silo structure limits its ability to create an integrated end-to-end journey for clients. Taking issue with comments There are a couple of points in this interview with which we take issue, however. Firstly, in asking the question “Is change coming?” Jones
Justin Rogers
Adam Hewitt
