Imagine if the next time you visited your GP complaining of stress or diabetes or asthma, he prescribed a course of low-impact aerobics, a session on the treadmill or a few lengths of the pool?
That's exactly what's happening in Cork, in a partnership scheme between the Southern Health Board, the Irish College of General Practitioners and a local leisure centre. Today, the Minister for Health and Children, Micheal Martin, launches the GP Exercise on Referral Scheme aimed at offering physical activity rather than pills and potions to patients with certain medical conditions.
It's a pilot project which involves five GP practices, 10 GPs and an initial 150 patients. Each programme lasts 12 weeks; the project will be evaluated after one year, during which 600 people will participate.
While research indicates that people who are physically active have far fewer health problems than people with sedentary lifestyles, the message isn't getting across. Last year's national SLAN survey found that 58 per cent of adult respondents took no regular exercise.
"Our aim is to change people's attitude to physical activity in that they would feel better both physically and mentally," says Catherine Murphy, health promotion officer with the Southern Health Board, adding that while doctors have always promoted the value of exercise in general, many don't have the opportunity to refer patients to specific exercise programmes.
Dr John O'Riordan is one of the participating GPs: "All GPs have patients in exercise referral groups; some have responded well, others respond initially but have fallen by the wayside, and others have not responded at all. Six months later, you ask them how they're getting on and it's `yes, I got the track suit, and I nearly bought the shoes!' It's the last two groups we want to reach. We can now offer something which has professional outside support, ongoing encouragement, and realistic goals.
"Long-term the scheme will be evaluated with regard to the physical parameters - but what we are really trying to change is the attitude to physical activity and to help people find something they enjoy and will stick to," he adds.
Johann Hoey, a nurse with a Masters in sport medicine, will co-ordinate the scheme in Leisureworld, Bishopstown in collaboration with their staff. She has already begun working with the first recruits: "A lot of people are afraid of the whole idea of exercise; they've never been in a gym, but the fact that their doctor recommends it makes a difference."
Each patient will have a programme tailor-made for his or her fitness, ability levels and medical condition: "For example, weight-bearing exercises are beneficial for people with osteoporosis," says Johann, "but repetitive, pounding exercises are not indicated for someone with osteoarthritis; the exercise bike would be better for them."
She has devised a cardiovascular programme for people with heart conditions. Over the next few weeks classes begin in low-impact aerobics, stretching, and muscle strengthening. Participants get reduced rates at the centre and GMS holders are further subsidised.
"The age range already is from age 30 to 76, not your usual health club sample," says Johann. "We will have group discussions on stress, lifestyle, walking, gardening, even doing the housework more vigorously. My aim is to help people to become more physically active, to stop seeing exercise as a chore, more of a hobby, and help to change their lifestyle in the long term."