With the increase in global health awareness, more and more medical professionals are beginning to realize the importance of exercise for health. New Zealand's "Green Prescription" is one of the results of this understanding. With this approach, doctors can not only prescribe medication but also recommend exercise and lifestyle changes to improve the patient's health.
A "Green Prescription" is exercise and lifestyle advice prescribed by a doctor or caregiver that emphasizes the importance of exercise in improving health.
New Zealand's "Green Prescription" is similar to the UK's "Exercise Prescription" scheme, which encourages people to actively participate in exercise to improve health and prevent disease. This innovative health revolution began to gain attention in the medical community. Many surveys and studies have shown that participating in exercise can significantly improve mental and physical health and reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
The concept of green prescription was officially launched in New Zealand in 1995. The doctor will provide the patient with a clear exercise plan that takes into account the patient's health status and needs. Doctors discuss their goals and health issues with patients during a consultation and then write a prescription that includes exercise and lifestyle recommendations.
Research shows that through green prescription, patients' exercise volume has significantly increased and their mental health has significantly improved.
Many traditional health concepts rely on medication, but the emergence of green prescriptions has changed this. It demonstrates an exercise-based approach to preventive medicine that emphasizes the necessity of physical activity in daily life. This not only enhances patients’ sense of control over their health, but also helps improve their overall quality of life.
For example, when managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, appropriate exercise prescription can not only reduce medication use but also reduce the risk of related complications.
Exercise prescriptions for specific diseases have been validated in many countries, such as:
In people with arthritis, exercise can reduce joint pain and improve muscle strength. Studies of people with anxiety or depression also show that regular exercise can reduce symptoms and improve emotional well-being.
Exercise can be an important therapy for patients with depression and an effective auxiliary to psychotherapy.
In strategies to combat migraine, although exercise may sometimes aggravate symptoms, as a non-pharmacological treatment, it can still have a positive effect on reducing the overall frequency of attacks.
The successful implementation of Green Prescription in New Zealand provides valuable experience for other regions. Research shows that this method can effectively reduce medical costs and reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease and new diabetes, which has prompted more and more doctors to pay attention to the impact of sports medicine on health.
Green prescription is not only an important innovation in the medical system, but also a vivid example of the health revolution in the new era. By incorporating exercise into medical care, doctors can create new health paths for patients. But can such a change be promoted on a wider scale to meet the needs of different patient groups?