"If doctors could prescribe exercise in a pill form, it would be the single most widely prescribed drug in the world," stated Dr. Robert Butler, President of the International Longevity Center at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City.

What is Exercise is Medicine® On Campus?

“Exercise is Medicine® (EIM) is a global health initiative managed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) that is focused on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care providers to include physical activity when designing treatment plans for patients and referring their patients to EIM Credentialed Exercise and Exercise Professionals. EIM is committed to the belief that physical activity is integral in the prevention and treatments of diseases and should be regularly assessed and “treated” as part of all healthcare.”  

Retrieved from http://exerciseismedicine.org/

The goal of the EIM initiative is to increase visibility about the importance of physical activity and to advance the notion of exercise as a ‘vital sign’ in the medical community.

EIM-OC Steps to Better Health

What if you could get a prescription to raise your spirits, lose weight, prevent disease, and help prevent chronic pain?

Would you contact Cutler Health Center and ask for the prescription?

Now you can and the prescription is Exercise!

  1. Visit Cutler Health Center where a provider will ask you about your exercise habits and will refer you if over the last three months, you have not regularly performed physical activity for at least 30 minutes, three days/week at a moderate intensity* level. (*Moderate intensity activity causes noticeable increases in heart rate and breathing such as walking at a brisk pace).
  2. Bring your referral to the Rec Center front desk.
  3. A Kinesiology student intern will contact you about setting up your first appointment.  This is FREE to you.
  4. Work with your EIM-OC intern for the whole semester, or for a couple of weeks.  It’s up to you. You and your intern will determine the best schedule to meet your goals.

Campus Recreation, KPE Department, and Cutler Health Center collaborate to bring you this program. 

Ask your Cutler Health Care Provider for a referral today!

#ExerciseIsMedicineOnCampus 
#UMaineInMotion

The Value of Physical Activity

Regular physical activity at the correct intensity is scientifically proven to reduce health risks for a number of chronic diseases.

  • Reduces the risk of heart disease by 40%
  • Reduces incidences of diabetes by about 50%
  • Reduces incidences of high blood pressure by about 50%
  • Reduces the risk of different types of cancers by 40-60%
    • Colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer
  • Reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by
  • Reduces levels of depression as effectively as medication and behavioral therapy

Attention Students

Would you like to get involved?  Would you like to help educate the UMaine community on the benefits of physical activity and take on a leadership role to help build your resume?  If yes, then join the Exercise is Medicine® On Campus Student Organization!  Contact courtney.cotnoir@maine.edu 

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President Hunter Signs EIM Proclamation