Fitness program gets patients moving toward a healthier lifestyle

University of Michigan Health System
Monday, 1 December 2003

MFit's Fit-Script program offers patients with chronic illness or complex health history guidance to start a medically based exercise program

Get more exercise and eat a well-balanced diet – it's common advice that health care providers give many of their patients during annual physicals and other medical appointments.

Although the advice may seem simple, many patients – especially those with chronic diseases like diabetes, arthritis, muscular disorders or coronary artery disease, or those who have had a serious injury or stroke – find that incorporating exercise into a physically limited or hectic lifestyle isn't easy.

Now the University of Michigan Health System's MFit Health Promotion Division has developed a program that guides those patients interested in increasing their physical activities and making healthy behavioral changes to get them moving down the road toward good health.

Fit-Script, MFit's medically based exercise program, is specially designed for patients of various physical levels who need assistance and personal attention to learn how to practice a safe and effective exercise program that can improve their quality of life.

It was specifically created for a patient population that is often overlooked – patients who no longer need physical or occupational therapy, but are physically unable to transition to a mainstream gym, says James Steinhebel, MFit Regional Fitness Center Manager.

"Staying physically active is sometimes the only remedy patients who are coping with a chronic illness or recovering from an injury have to improve their daily function and coordination," says Steinhebel. "Sometimes the physical or occupational therapy visits allotted by patients' insurance aren't always enough for them to fully recover mobility and coordination. This leaves patients who are post treatment or post rehabilitation on their own to exercise, which can be very challenging for them."

Earlier this year, U-M patient Laura Gable found herself in that very situation. After concluding her physical therapy program, Gable, who has cerebral palsy, was encouraged by her physical therapist and physicians to continue with an exercise routine to help build strength and increase mobility in her weakened left leg.

Although Gable wanted to stay physically active, she says finding the motivation to
exercise was often difficult until she joined the Fit-Script program.

"I've had many gym memberships that have dwindled because there's no one there to help me do the right exercises or to even motivate me," she says. "With Fit-Script, there's always someone there checking on me when I exercise, and to help me adjust my exercises. And when I'm not there, they've sent me e-mails encouraging me and asking how my exercise program is going. You don't get that kind of attention at a gym."

Through Fit-Script's one-on-one exercise program, Gable received two one-hour personal training sessions a week for three months at MFit at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube Fitness Center. Gable's Fit-Script trainer worked closely with her physical therapist to design an exercise program that would best suit her needs. Her program includes stretching, weight lifting and using other exercise machines to strengthen her arms and legs.

All patients begin Fit-Script with a free15 minute discovery session to determine which of Fit-Script's three programs, including the one-on-one exercise program, will best meet the patient's needs, says Wendy Dolen-Morawa, MS, MFit exercise physiologist. The discovery session is followed by a functional assessment to evaluate the patient's physical capabilities to tailor a program to meet the patient's goals and abilities.

"We want patients to be allowed to choose their own path to physical fitness, which is why it's so important to sit down with patients and actually listen to what their goals are in regards to health and fitness," says Dolen-Morawa. "For many of them, their goal isn't to lose weight, it's to physically feel better. And with Fit-Script, we not only help them design an exercise program, we help them make behavioral changes to improve overall quality of life."

With the one-on-one exercise program, patients will work directly with an assigned Fit-Script staff member to learn and practice a safe and effective exercise program. Patients also have the option of the monitored exercise program. This program, which includes four one-hour visits, is designed for patients who need short-term assistance and personal attention in learning and practicing a safe and effective exercise program.

Fit-Script also includes an independent exercise program. This single visit program is for patients who need only moderate guidance for developing an effective exercise regime. In addition, the health care providers who refer patients to any of the Fit-Script programs receive regular updates on the patients' progress. Fit-Script is also available without a physician referral.

"The programs are really designed to offer guidance to empower patients to exercise on their own," says Steinhebel. "Anyone at any physical level can benefit from Fit-Script."

For Gable, it felt natural to transition to a membership at MFit at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube Fitness Center after she completed the Fit-Script program. At the facility, she's able to continue her exercise program and, although she completed Fit-Script, still receive encouragement from the Fit-Script staff during her workouts. Since she began Fit-Script nearly one year ago, Gable also regained muscle tone and strength in her left leg.

"This program has improved my quality of life 100 percent," says Gable. "After I finished Fit-Script, I felt good enough to be on my own at the gym. And now I'm there twice a week, no matter what."

Fit-Script is a fee-for-service program covered by some insurance companies. Patients will need to contract their insurance company directly for coverage details. The 15-minute consultation is free, and available at MFit at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube Fitness Center on Oak Valley Drive, the U-M East Ann Arbor Health Center on Plymouth Rd., the U-M MWorks office on S. Industrial Dr. in Ann Arbor, and at the Health & Wellness Resource Center at U-M Hospital in Ann Arbor.

To schedule an appointment for your initial assessment or to learn more about the Fit-Script program, call MFit at (734) 975-4410, ext. 260. More information about Fit-Script is also available online at www.med.umich.edu/mworks/products/fitscript.htm.

For more information, or to contact University of Michigan Health System, see their website at: www.med.umich.edu