NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Course overview

REGULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS ESSENTIAL FOR MAINTAINING GOOD HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY BENEFITS EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF AGE, FITNESS LEVEL, OR UNDERLYING CLINICAL CONDITIONS. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS LINKED WITH POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES THAT ACCUMULATE IMMEDIATELY AFTER INITIATING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY; HOWEVER, MOST AMERICANS DO NOT MEET THE CURRENT AEROBIC AND MUSCLE-STRENGTHENING EXERCISE GUIDELINES. THIS LACK OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED QUALITY OF LIFE, INCREASED RISK OF CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITIONS, AND A HIGHER COST OF HEALTHCARE. ALL INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE PHYSICALLY ACTIVE, ALTHOUGH SOME GROUPS HAVE UNIQUE NEEDS BASED ON MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR AGE. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF EXERCISE AND THE CURRENT NATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OUTLINED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES IN 2018 AND THOSE FROM THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO) 2020 GUIDELINES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND SEDENTARY BEHAVIOR. THIS ACTIVITY ALSO HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ENCOURAGING PATIENTS TO INCREASE THEIR ACTIVITY LEVELS TO ACHIEVE BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES.