Exercise is Medicine

If you move well and move often, you’ll achieve greater health. That’s why Mercy has restructured the programs at its fitness centers in the Springfield area to focus on exercise as medicine, complete with guidance and monitoring from doctors.

One new program is the Medical Fitness Bridge. It will use nutrition and exercise to help patients make the transition from a medical condition through recovery and on to better health. Patients will need to have a recommendation from their doctors to participate in the eight-week programs, which will target those who’ve recently given birth, had an orthopedic surgery or injury, are recovering from cancer or who have a metabolic disorder such as diabetes.

While personal training sessions are still an option, members may prefer ProActive Fitness. It’s an eight-week program where small groups of students work out with an instructor twice a week. It begins with a professional evaluation, followed by a fitness prescription that includes nutrition and exercise. After eight weeks, participants are once again evaluated to measure their success.

Other recently-introduced programs include Mercy Movement 101, which focuses on proper form and breathing while improving mobility using the patients’ own body weight. The Falls Prevention Program is an eight-week program for small groups, and has been very popular with seniors. It addresses fundamental movement patterns with attention to posture and strength. Both are offered to members at no additional cost. Other popular classes, including yoga, pilates, zumba and spin classes remain on the schedule at no additional cost.

Fitness center members will have their choice of workout locations:

Mercy Fitness Center – Walnut Lawn
202 E. Walnut Lawn, Springfield Mercy Sports Medicine
2135 S. Fremont, Springfield Hammons Heart Institute Swimming Pool
1325 E. Cherokee Mercy Fitness Center – Nixa
940 W. Mt. Vernon, Nixa

“We know proper nutrition and exercise play a huge role in a healthy life,” said Jim Raynor, administrative director for Mercy Sports Medicine and Fitness. “Another new initiative involves our co-workers. We don’t just want them to join the fitness center, we want them to show up and reap the benefits of exercise.” To encourage participation, Mercy co-workers who work out at the fitness center at least 12 times per month for six consecutive months will receive a 30 percent refund on their monthly membership dues. They are eligible for the refund up to twice each year.

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