December 9th 2010

Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease

Exercise Daily! - Physical activity in the prevention and treatment of disease

9 out of ten of all primary care centers in Sweden prescribe physical activity

Prescribing physical activity for the purpose of preventing and treating various conditions can now become a reality for healthcare professionals all over the world.

Nine out of ten of all primary care centers in Sweden prescribe physical activity. The book Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease is often used as a handbook when prescribing physical activity. This is the first time such a comprehensive and scientifically based publication on physical activity is being published in English!

Written by 95 experts, the book summarizes the up-to-date scientific knowledge on how to prevent and treat various diseases and conditions on which physical activity has a documented effect. The first Swedish edition of the book came out in 2003 and a revised and expanded edition was published in 2008 and now this latest edition has been updated and translated to English. The book was prepared by the editorial board of Professional Associations for Physical Activity, a sub-section of the Swedish Society of Medicine, and it was produced in cooperation with Swedish National Institute of Public Health.

In Sweden, healthcare professionals have been prescribing physical activity for many years. Physical activity on prescription is used in all healthcare districts in Sweden. Interest is growing in other countries in working with the method. Physical activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease (FYSS in Swedish) is used as a handbook in over 50 percent of all prescriptions for physical activity. The book is also used in research and as a textbook in courses for doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other healthcare workers.

Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease covers the following areas:

General effects of physical activity
Promoting physical activity
Becoming physically active
Motivational interviewing about physical activity
Health aspects of strength training
Infections and sports & Sports and sudden death
Children and young people
Pregnancy
Menopause
The elderly
Effects of physical activity and direct recommendations of exercise activities for 33 different conditions including:
Asthma
Anxiety
Cancer
Coronary artery disease
Dementia
Depression
Diabetes – types 1 and 2
Metabolic syndrome
Obesity
Osteoporosis
Pain
Peripheral artery disease
Post-polio
Schizophrenia
Stroke and more.

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Contact: Johan Landin
johan.landin@fhi.se
466-319-9769
Swedish Research Council

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