Physical Activity | Core Competencies
Physical Activity | Core Competencies is organized by American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) and will be held from Jan 26, 2022 - Jan 26, 2025.
Description
Part of the Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies program, this topic module contains four units:
Introduction to Physical Activity and the Role of Healthcare Providers in Physical Activity Counseling | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM
This unit reviews the relationship between physical activity and health, defines physical activity and exercise, identifies the components of exercise, and summarizes the United States Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
The Science Behind Physical Activity and Sitting and Inactivity | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM
This unit reviews the use of METS in measuring exercise intensity and fitness, the minimum and maximum levels of exercise, the evidence for the components of physical activity and key physical activity assessment tools.
Healthcare Providers' Role in Physical Activity Counseling and Filling the Exercise Prescription | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM
This unit also describes how to collaborate with patients to promote physical activity change, identifies resources for sustainable behavior change, and reviews the components of writing the exercise prescription.
Physical Activity for Specific Health Conditions and Physical Activity for the Chronically Ill | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM
This unit reviews the treatment of disease with exercise as compared with medication and evidence-based physical activity recommendations for a variety of patient groups and conditions, including children, healthy older adults, pregnancy, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and disability.
Learning Objectives
Healthcare providers should be given encouragement and resources to turn their practices into ones focused on improved physical activity.
After viewing the module presentations, learners should be able to:
Introduction to Physical Activity and the Role of Healthcare Providers in Physical Activity Counseling
• Evaluate the potential consequences of physical inactivity, including premature death, preventable disease, and higher healthcare costs
• Differentiate between physical activity and exercise
• Describe distinct types of exercise, including aerobic exercise, strengthening, flexibility, and balance
• Classify various types of physical fitness as outcomes of exercise
• Utilize physical activity guidelines as stated by the Department of HHS in 2018
The Science Behind Physical Activity and Sitting and Inactivity
• Analyze physical activity assessment tools and identify examples of these tools
• Emphasize the importance of fitness in decreasing the risks of all-cause mortality
• Examine the relationship between fitness and body weight, and identify the protective effects of fitness
• Calculate how much exercise is recommended to experience maximum health benefits
• Examine the correlation between sitting and all-cause mortality risk, as a distinct but related factor to physical activity levels
Healthcare Provider's Role in Physical Activity Counseling and Filling the Exercise Prescription
• Determine the feasibility, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of office-based counseling
• Recruit different types of healthcare providers that promote exercise
• Provide supplementary resources that can promote sustained exercise
• Identify barriers to counseling to increase the efficacy and frequency of physical activity counseling
• Utilize physical activity vital signs to assess patients’ current physical activity levels and to inform appropriate healthcare provider responses
• Describe the factors that make up a physical activity prescription, such as frequency, intensity, type, and time
Physical Activity for Specific Health Conditions and Physical Activity for the Chronically Ill
• Use evidence-based physical activity guidelines for healthy older adults
• Use evidence-based physical activity guidelines for children and adolescents
• Use evidence-based physical activity guidelines for pregnant and postpartum women
• Use evidence-based physical activity guidelines for patients with heart disease
• Use evidence-based physical activity guidelines for patients with diabetes
• Use evidence-based physical activity guidelines for patients with cancer
