Abstract
Asia is home to the largest older adult population in the world, and the proportion of people aged 65 and over is projected to rapidly grow in all Asian countries. Many chronic diseases and conditions are prevalent in older adults, and regular exercise and physical activity can help prevent and manage many of these conditions. A significant component of Asian cultures is the promotion of active lifestyles, where many older adults would have the opportunity to practice exercise for free or at low cost. However, if seniors have a chronic condition and no previous experience with exercise, it is not always easy to start an exercise routine without specialized information and appropriate instruction. Exercise is Medicine (EIM) was created to help seniors with chronic diseases to incorporate exercise into their everyday lives. PURPOSE: Due to the initial development of EIM within Western cultures and traditions, the purpose our work was to examine how best to adapt, implement, and disseminate EIM for the older adult population in Asia. METHODS: From April, 2017 to September, 2018 numerous discussions were held between researchers and practitioners from Asian countries who had between 15 to 30 years of experience in the area of aging and physical activity. Additionally, research articles, reports, and web-sites related to EIM were reviewed and analyzed. Finally, interviews were conducted among EIM personnel in Asia. RESULTS: The results have been divided into three sections. The first section provides a historical overview of EIM development in Asia. The second presents an assessment of the potential role of EIM for older adults in Asia. The final section provides a blueprint for the development of an extended concept of EIM as a stimulus for further conversations and discussions among the medical, exercise, and health related communities. CONCLUSION: EIM has the potential to play an important role in the prevention and management of chronic diseases in Asia, and improving quality of life among Asian seniors.
Published Version
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