OSU Health and Fitness Center
150 W Main St Ste A, New Albany, OH 43054
Turn Motivation into Habit and Habit into Better Health
The benefits of exercise for improved health and disease prevention are well-known. So are the challenges – people lack a routine, believe that they don’t have the time or simply haven’t made exercise a priority. We also understand that everyone needs the initial motivation and long-term support to succeed, so The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is an ardent supporter and active participant in Exercise is Medicine™, a global initiative to make physical activity and exercise a standard part of disease prevention and treatment.
You Don't Have to be 100% Healthy to Start – But You do Have to Start to Become Healthier
Your Reward
- Physical activity decreases the risk of many health issues, strengthens your bones and muscles, and improves self-image and mental health.
- Regular exercise can help prevent injury and get you back on your feet faster after an injury.
- Strengthening your muscles and helps prevent injury to ligaments, joints and tendons in the area.
- If you ever need to have a procedure for an injury, the better you are going in, the better you’ll be coming out.
Get Started
Everyone has their own starting line. You may have never considered yourself an athlete or participated in any kind of fitness program, or you may have been sidelined by an injury or illness after years of intense physical activity. Where you are today isn’t the issue; it’s all about where you want to be in the future.
- Research proves that exercise has a role in the treatment and prevention of more than 40 chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity and hypertension.
- In addition, recent studies show that exercise across a lifespan can prolong one’s life by up to three years.
Motivation
The encouraging news for everyone is that the amount of exercise needed for these health benefits is much lower than the amount needed for complete fitness.
So the next few months will pass by whether you exercise or not. Why not use those days to make a change for the better? You’ll feel stronger both physically and mentally. We’re ready when you are.
How We Help
A key component of Exercise is Medicine is the involvement of every Ohio State health care provider, regardless of specialty, in the review and assessment of every patient’s physical activity level at every visit.
This ongoing engagement and repetitive dialogue is key. So is including a prescription for exercise or referral to a qualified fitness professional in each patient’s treatment plan following a primary care office visit. All programming after that is delivered by professionals with American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) credentials and Exercise is Medicine (EIM) training.
Take the next step
Today is the day to improve tomorrow’s health. The first step involves talking with your physician.
- Schedule your annual wellness visit with your health care provider or make plans to discuss physical activity at your next appointment. Participation in Exercise is Medicine requires a physician referral, so this first step is mandatory.
About Referral Process:
Any physician can refer a patient to EIM.
Physicians who are affiliated with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center should complete a patient referral through Integrated Healthcare Information System (IHIS).
All other physicians can find referral instructions here.
- If you don’t have a regular doctor, you can visit our Find a Doctor web page to review credentials.
- Ask for and expect your doctor to provide guidance on how you can meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which are currently 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, plus muscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups performed on two or more days per week.
If you have questions, please contact:
Kelly Urse
614-685-2221
exerciseismedicine@osumc.edu
Participants in Ohio State’s Exercise is Medicine program may receive:
- An exercise routine tailored to your specific health and wellness starting point.
- Home exercise programs and guidance on next steps
- Group exercise class recommendations
- Health and fitness education and behavior modification strategies, including goal setting and personal accountability
- Continual coaching, motivation and feedback that is also shared with your referring physician
- A social and supportive environment to improve the chances of positive outcomes
- If desired while in the program, full use of the Ohio State Health and Fitness Center
- Participants are also eligible for discounted membership to other local partner fitness centers
- Each location will include a range of fitness equipment, supervised small group exercise sessions, lectures, nutrition education and movement based activities
- After completion of EIM, continued use of Ohio State’s Health and Fitness Center or discounts at other fitness facilities in the community
- Access to our Sports Medicine specialty programs when you’re ready to exceed the minimum recommendations or want to improve performance, comfort and safety
Program Specifics/What to Expect
Once your physician has cleared you for independent exercise and provided a referral, a clinical exercise physiologist will review your information and confirm your eligibility for EIM. You will then be contacted with program and location details, and to schedule your initial appointment.
- The EIM program involves three one-on-one and 16 group sessions over 11 weeks.
- Our initial goal is to help you reach the minimum level of recommended physical activity to maintain or improve your health based on the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
- Sessions are led by a fitness specialist with ACSM EIM credentials.
- Participation in EIM cannot be billed to insurance. Your out-of-pocket cost will be $225.
This one-hour appointment includes:
- Detailed discussion of your current physical activity and medical history
- Wellness coaching to assess and understand both individual barriers and strengths, as well as motivation and readiness for change.
- Collection of all registration materials, surveys and biometrics
- A tour of the facility
During this one-hour, one-on-one session:
- You will review the details of your custom exercise prescription, which will be designed using the information collected at your first session.
- Exercise prescriptions will include cardiovascular, strength training and flexibility components suitable for your unique situation.
- You should leave with a basic understanding of how to perform each of the prescribed exercises and why they are appropriate for you specifically.
These one-hour group exercise sessions are held twice a week for eight weeks after you’ve mastered each of the prescribed exercises that were shared with you in the second session.
- These group sessions or use of workout partners give you both a sense of community and a source of added support.
- Group sessions may have up to eight EIM participants, each with an individual exercise plan to work through at their own pace.
- An EIM specialist will supervise all participants to ensure safety and modify existing exercise plans as needed.
- As your individual fitness or confidence levels improve, we will help you safely increase the complexity or intensity of your physical activity.
- Each EIM specialist has the flexibility to conduct group exercises when appropriate, utilize outdoor space for group walks, or place participants into groups with similar interests, health conditions or fitness levels.
With a new routine established, it’s time to assess the progress you’ve made over the previous eight weeks and develop a strategy for continued success. During this one-hour session, your EIM specialist will:
- Create an updated exercise prescription, accounting for improvements already realized.
- Modify plans based on your goals and resources. This may lead to a home exercise plan or workouts at the Health and Fitness Center in New Albany or another Ohio State or partner fitness facility.
- Develop a wellness plan for the next six months, taking into account your accomplishments and challenges setbacks over the past two months.
- Collect all surveys and biometrics to support program evaluation.
Our Locations
Outpatient Care Upper Arlington
1800 Zollinger Rd, Columbus, OH 4322
Eldon and Elsie Ward Family YMCA
130 Woodland Ave, Columbus, OH 43203
Dublin Community Recreation Center
5600 Post Rd, Dublin, OH 43017
Martha Morehouse Outpatient Care
2050 Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH 43221
Grove City YMCA
3600 Discovery Drive, Grove City, OH 43123
Liberty Township/Powell YMCA
7798 Liberty Road N., Powell, OH 43065
Hilliard Recreation and Parks
3800 Veterans Memorial Dr., Hilliard, OH 43026
Bob Crane Community Center
3200 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington, OH 43221
Blackburn Community Center
263 Carpenter St. Columbus, OH 43205
Additional Resources
Prior to participation in Exercise is Medicine (EIM), patients must receive medical clearance for independent exercise from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant in any medical specialty. We do not require prior affiliation with or treatment at Ohio State.
- As part of this clearance, please screen your patient for any symptoms or signs of coronary artery disease (CAD) or congestive heart failure (CHF). Prior to your referral, and if clinically indicated, please consider further workup as well, such as a cardiac stress test.
- Patients with the following conditions are NOT appropriate for the Exercise is Medicine program:
- Symptoms suggestive of CAD/CHF (i.e., chest pain, dizziness, syncope, excessive dyspnea on exertion)
- Myocardial infarction, revascularization or stroke/TIA within the past 12 months
- Unstable angina
- Congestive heart failure (NYHA Class II, III or IV)
- Ventricular arrhythmia
- Clinically significant cardiac valve disease
- Uncontrolled hypertension (>160/100)
- Uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Major surgery within the past three months
- Severe or frequent hypoglycemia
- Inability to independently manage blood glucose during activity
- Severe autonomic or peripheral neuropathy
- Active foot ulcers or unstable retinopathy
Referral Process:
Any physician can refer a patient to EIM.
Physicians who are affiliated with The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center should complete a patient referral through Integrated Healthcare Information System (IHIS).
All other physicians can find referral instructions here.