‘Exercise is Medicine’ efforts create culture of wellness on WSU campus

WESTFIELD, Mass.— Westfield State University is one of only 156 universities and colleges around the world to be honored by “Exercise is Medicine” for its efforts to create a culture of wellness on campus. Exercise science projects such as the Community Fitness Partners and the Community Advocacy Physical Activity Promotion helped WSU earn silver-level designation from the Exercise is Medicine On Campus (EIM-OC) program.  

“We are thrilled to recognize these campuses’ commitment to make movement a part of daily campus culture and give students the tools to cultivate physical activity habits that will benefit them throughout their lives,” said Robyn Stuhr, National Vice President of Exercise is Medicine. “These campus programs are nurturing future leaders who will advance a key tenet of Exercise is Medicine: making physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in health care.” 

In addition to health fairs, invited speakers, STEM Week Education and Exercise for Breast Cancer Patients programs there are two main established EIM-OC projects. In the fall, the Community Fitness Partners Project provides personal training to the campus community, including fitness assessment, exercise programing, health education and behavior change support. This is done as part of the Senior Seminar in Exercise Science course. 

 

In the spring semester, the Organization and Administration in Exercise Science class brings together students of multiple concentrations from the Sports Medicine & Human Performance Department to advocate as an interprofessional team with the Physical Activity Promotion Projects. This year there will be three promotion projects focusing on getting our community outside and walking: “Steps for Change”, “Get Up, Get Going” and “Steps for Students”.  

With only 50 percent of Americans meeting the Aerobic physical activity guidelines as set out by the ACSM, the “Steps for Change” Group is trying to get the Westfield State University campus moving. The goal of this project is to have participants average 7,000 steps per day, as studies have shown this as being the most important threshold to reach to reduce mortality. Participants will have the chance to win a gift card at the conclusion of the program on April 28. For more information follow Instagr@steps_for_change_2022. 

The “Get Up, Get Going”, initiative informs students and faculty of Westfield State there are cost effective, easy ways to squeeze in physical activity into their busy lives in the local community. For more information follow: @get_up_get_going_2022; Facebook @Get Going; or Twitter @getupgetgoing22. 

“Steps for Students” is a project with the goal of getting students at Westfield State University more active through walking. The goal of the project is to get an average of 10,000 steps per day for a week. The person who has the highest average of steps per day for the whole week, will win a $25 gift card to “Shortstop Bar and Grill”. 

“EIM-OC goals are to provide opportunities for physical activity, create a culture on campus that embraces movement as a daily facet of life and provide the behavioral tools necessary to enact that change to facilitate lifelong physical activity habits and meet public health goals.” said Dr. Melissa Roti, EIM-OC faculty advisor and Exercise Science Program Director in the Sports Medicine & Human Performance Department.  “Students gain professional experience in their field of study and learn to be the community role models that exercise science professionals should be.” 

View a complete list of recognized schools and learn more about the EIM-OC program at https://www.exerciseismedicine.org/support_page.php/eim-on-campus/. 

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About Exercise Is Medicine 

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) co-launched Exercise is Medicine (EIM) in 2007 with the American Medical Association. ACSM continues to manage the global health initiative, which seeks to make physical activity assessment and promotion a standard in clinical care, connecting health care with evidence-based physical activity resources for people everywhere of all abilities. EIM is committed to the belief that physical activity promotes optimal health, is integral in the prevention and treatment of many medical conditions and should be regularly assessed and included as part of health care. Visit www.ExerciseisMedicine.org for additional information. 

About the American College of Sports Medicine 

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 50,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine. More details at www.acsm.org.  

Founded in 1839 by Horace Mann, Westfield State University is an education leader committed to providing every generation of students with a learning experience built on its founding principle as the first public co-educational college in America to offer an education without barrier to race, gender or economic status. This spirit of innovative thinking and social responsibility is forged in a curriculum of liberal arts and professional studies that creates a vital community of engaged learners who become confident, capable individuals prepared for leadership and service to society. For more information about Westfield State University, visit www.westfield.ma.edu, www.twitter.com/westfieldstate, or https://www.facebook.com/WestfieldStateUniversity.