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01.08.2013 | Review Article

Exercise is medicine: some cautionary remarks in principle as well as in practice

Erschienen in: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy | Ausgabe 3/2013

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Abstract

On the basis of extensive research on the relationship between physical activity, exercise and health, as well as strong support from policymakers and practitioners, the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative has become something of a linchpin in the agenda for modern healthcare reform and reflects a broader acceptance that the philosophy of health politics must shift from social engineering to performativity. However, in spite of the avowed commitment to encouraging individuals to take on a more reflexive relation to their health, it remains unclear as to whether an initiative such as this is, unambiguously, a good thing. In this paper, a number of cautionary remarks are made with respect to “Exercise is Medicine” in principle as well as in practice. Firstly, it is argued that equating exercise with medicine is to equate it with a definition of and relation to the body to which it is not entirely akin. And secondly, it is argued that any proposed alignment of the fitness and healthcare industries needs further critical examination, a realigning of interests, and a thorough reconsideration of their suitability of fit.

For a general overview, see http://www.exerciseismedicine.org. It is also worth noting that, outside of the U.S., comparable initiatives have been referred to as GP referral schemes. For example, in Ireland, the “GP Exercise Referral Programme” is the name for the joint scheme that is being undertaken in conjunction with the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM), the Health Service Executive (HSE), and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).

Although the relation of fitness and health to wellbeing is not of primary concern here, it seems as though this also represents a useful conceptual problem for future consideration.

A number of recent studies, for example, suggest that emphasising the instrumental and beneficial outcomes of exercising can act, somehow paradoxically, as a barrier to the uptake and maintenance of such behaviour (see e.g. Crossley 2006; Sassatelli 1999b; Tsai 2005).

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Titel: Exercise is medicine: some cautionary remarks in principle as well as in practice
Publikationsdatum: 01.08.2013
Erschienen in: Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy / Ausgabe 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1386-7423
Elektronische ISSN: 1572-8633
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-012-9383-y

Springer Medizin

Abstract

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