Exercise Management for Referred Medical Conditions

Exercise referral describes the process of consultation, planning and instructing physical activity programmes and applying appropriate behaviour change strategies for clients presenting a range of low- to medium-risk medical conditions. Exercise Management for Referred Medical Conditions is the first book to integrate exercise prescription with the development of healthy behaviours and the promotion of physical activity and well-being and provides students with an evidence-based, applied guide to becoming effective exercise referral practitioners.

The book draws upon the latest research and recommends best practices for creating referral pathways, providing exercise programmes and engaging clients in health lifestyles. Covering the pathology, medical management, role of exercise and recommendations for programming in each case, it discusses a range of conditions, including:

• Obesity and type I and II diabetes
• Hypertension and dyslipidaemia
• Asthma
• Low back pain, osteoarthritis and joint replacement, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis
• Depression, anxiety and stress disorders

Consistently organised and laden with pedagogical features, including learning objectives, key terms, case studies, future developments and chapter summaries, no other book offers such a clear, holistic model for exercise referral. This is a vital resource for any student undertaking vocational courses in exercise referral and an important reference for exercise scientists, physical therapists, fitness professionals or local policy-makers interested in the use of physical activity in healthcare.