Board Members
of the European Initiative for Exercise in Medicine e. V.
Chair
Why am I a board member of EIEIM?
Why is EIEIM so important?
"Exercise is Medicine came to Europe when the importance of exercise, sports and physical activity was already a cultural tradition in Europe, however the practice in daily life and medicine is lacking. I am happy to be engaged in Exercise in Medicine to promote Exercise in the entire field of medicine and the cooperation with sports scientists, health care specialists and the sport associations.
Several Data show that physical exercise is under regarded by physicians and only between 5 and 10 percent of the patients are asked about physical exercise in their life and activity by the physician. We need to emphasize this has an important issue in the entire field of medicine."
Physical activity and sports: how do I practice EIEIM?
"I do as much walking as possible and do two rowing exercises in my rowing boat every week and some jogging."
Institution: Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm, Germany
Vice Chair
Why am I a board member of EIEIM?
Why is EIEIM so important?
"Given the rapid increase in lifestyle-related, chronic disease there is a tremendous need for physical activity and exercise interventions, both from a Public Health as from a clinical perspective. It is my ambition to facilitate the uptake of EIM in the medical curriculum at medical schools, as well as to make it part of standard health care."
Physical activity and sports: how do I practice EIEIM?
"Baseball, soccer, volleyball, jogging, squash, tennis and golf. Being physically active is essential for me. Exercising outside provides me energy and counter balances my job, which is mostly being (sedentary) inside."
Institution: EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Treasurer
Why am I a board member of EIEIM?
Why is EIEIM so important?
"As the General Secretary of the German Association for Sports Medicine and Prevention I am deeply engaged in the field of Exercise is Medicine. Our Association supports EIEIM from the beginning and therefore I am proud to be a board member of EIEIM."
Physical activity and sports: how do I practice EIEIM?
"Exercise is important for the entire lifestyle and should be an important aspect of the evaluation in outpatients but also in therapy of patients.
I regularly do cycling, jogging and general fitness training in the gym"
Institution: University of Hamburg, Germany, Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine
Why am I a board member of EIEIM? Why is EIEIM so important?
"I am happy to be a board member of EIEIM because I strongly believe that exercise is medicine, and that individually prescribed physical activity is a treatment modality that is both effective and underutilized in health care.
EIEIM is important, as all initiatives to increase the use of lifestyle behaviour change in health care are needed, but particularly because EIEIM emphasises the use of exercise aslo as treatment for various (chronic) diseases, and not only for prevention."
Physical activity and sports: how do I practice EIEIM?
"Myself, I practice EIEIM as part of my work as chairman of the Heath Promoting Hospital-working group, of my University Hospital (Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden). One of the major achievements in this work has been the decision by the hospital management that major lifetyle behavioural parameters should be collected and registered in the medical record of all patients at the hospital. This will really boost the use of lifetyle behavioural change, including exercise on prescription."
Institution: Department of Physiology at Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Gotheburg, Netherlands
Why am I a board member of EIEIM? Why is EIEIM so important?
My position as Scientific Manager of Exercise is Medicine Spain has given me the possibility to join the board of EIEIM. Since I started my professional career, I have been convinced about the importance of exercise for health and healthy growing and ageing (together with the rest of “healthy habits“ as diet, non-smoking, etc.). Together with other colleagues, in 2005, we founded the EXERNET network (www.redexernet.es), the first Spanish research network dealing with health and exercise in different populations, currently we are 26 research groups. EXERNET is the partner of EIM in Spain and responsible for EIM-Spain. Prof. Dr. Jose Antonio Casajús is the president. I am happy to be a member of the board of EIEIM to contribute to the European dimension of EIM. As a convinced team worker, working together with the different partners should contribute to spread the scientific evidence and the message of the importance of a “life in motion“ and to include exercise in the prevention and treatment of diseases.
Physical activity and sports: how do I practice EIEIM?
My main research lines deal with the interrelationship and determinants of lifestyle and I have been pioneering the interdisciplinary collaboration between nutrition and sport sciences both at national and international level. I am in charge of the research group on nutrition, exercise and healthy lifestyles (for more information, please visit www.imfine.com.es). At a personal level, I am thankful to my father, who inculcated me the importance of practicing sports since I was a child, probably one of the best legacies we can leave to the next generations. Throughout the years, I have tried to adapt exercise practice to personal and professional life. So depending on the circumstances, Tennis, Swimming, Zumba, Pilates, Step Training, Paddle Surfing, Skiing…. Or just walking and stair climbing are on the program.
Why am I a board member of EIEIM? Why is EIEIM so important?
"Literature demonstrates that exercise training is an important pillar of an evidence-based prevention strategy and highly effective treatment option in various chronic diseases. However, in clinical routine the Exercise Pill often remains an unfilled prescription. Moreover, it must be individually prescribed with regard to training modality, intensity, dosage and frequency, just like with drug prescription. Thus, specific education and research is needed to ensure appropriate functional evaluation and exercise training prescription. Indeed, knowledge regarding cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), exercise physiology and training prescription must be integrated with know-how in cardiology, internal medicine, pneumology but also in orthopaedics. The aging of society, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and economical public health issues will lead to a huge request for professionals who engage in prevention and cost-saving treatment strategies. I’m highly motivated to actively engage in the EIEIM bringing in my multidisciplinary clinical, scientific and educational experience, aiming to promote, investigate and develop the clinical use of CPET and the Exercise Pill."
Physical activity and sports: how do I practice EIEIM?
"I have focused my clinical practice on cardiopulmonary exercise testing and functional evaluation in health and disease, developing and providing adapted physical exercise recommendations and prescriptions for different chronic conditions: Focus on heart-kidney-pancreas-liver transplant patients, congenital heart disease, heart failure (±VAD), peripheral artery disease, obesity, COPD, sarcoidosis, neoplastic diseases. Furthermore, I regularly engage in cardiovascular and pre-participation screening as well as in sports cardiology for competitive and non- competitive athletes. Finally, I do practice myself physical exercise and sports, because I strongly belief in this highly effective tool for primary and secondary prevention. How much fun is it to go cross-country skiing in a nice winter landscape or go hiking or cycling with friends! Social and healthy activities which will improve psychophysical wellbeing. For me Exercise is Medicine is part of my lifestyle."
Institution: Division of Sports and Exercise Medicine of the Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Italy