title: Exercise: A vitally important prescription.
abstract: Sedentary lifestyles and low physical activity have led to rising health concerns and increasing mortality risks. With the growing concern of the inactivity of adult Americans, it is important that physical activity be promoted to prevent disease and reduce health risks. This article reviews the benefits of physical activity and the steps that primary care providers should take to evaluate physical activity as the fifth vital sign in every patient encounter. The 5A's (assess, advise, agree, assist, and arrange) should be applied in order to implement an exercise prescription into the practice of medicine.
authors.affiliation: Rachel L. Hechanova practices emergency medicine in several hospitals in Los Angeles County, as well as in Goleta Valley, Calif. Jennifer L. Wegler practices orthopedics at the Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur D'Alene, Idaho. She previously was a clinical instructor of family medicine in the PA program at the University of Southern California (USC) in Alhambra, Calif. Christopher P. Forest is an assistant professor of clinical family medicine at USC's Keck School of Medicine and practices urgent care and family medicine in Los Angeles, Calif. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Rachel L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hechanova
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wegler
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Forest
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015444:Exercise; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D057185:Sedentary Behavior