Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease

Nine out of ten of all primary care centers in Sweden prescribe physical activity. The book Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease is often used as a handbook when prescribing physical activity. This is the first time such a comprehensive and scientifically based publication on physical activity is being published in English!

Written by 95 experts, the book summarizes the up-to-date scientific knowledge on how to prevent and treat various diseases and conditions on which physical activity has a documented effect. The first Swedish edition of the book came out in 2003 and a revised and expanded edition was published in 2008 and now this latest edition has been updated and translated to English. The book was prepared by the editorial board of Professional Associations for Physical Activity, a sub-section of the Swedish Society of Medicine, and it was produced in cooperation with Swedish National Institute of Public Health.

In Sweden, healthcare professionals have been prescribing physical activity for many years. Physical activity on prescription is used in all healthcare districts in Sweden. Interest is growing in other countries in working with the method. Physical activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease (FYSS in Swedish) is used as a handbook in over 50 percent of all prescriptions for physical activity. The book is also used in research and as a textbook in courses for doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other healthcare workers.

Physical Activity in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease covers the following areas:

• General effects of physical activity
• Promoting physical activity
• Becoming physically active
• Motivational interviewing about physical activity
• Health aspects of strength training
• Infections and sports & Sports and sudden death
• Children and young people
• Pregnancy
• Menopause
• The elderly
Effects of physical activity and direct recommendations of exercise activities for 33 different conditions including:
o Asthma
o Anxiety
o Cancer
o Coronary artery disease
o Dementia
o Depression
o Diabetes – types 1 and 2
o Metabolic syndrome
o Obesity
o Osteoporosis
o Pain
o Peripheral artery disease
o Post-polio
o Schizophrenia
o Stroke and more.
For more information: www.fhi.se/en
Contacts:
Carl-Johan Sundberg, MD, PhD, Karolinska Institute, Chair of Professional Associations for Physical Activity, Phone: +46 (0)70-517 68 86, E-mail: Carl.J.Sundberg@ki.se

Agneta Ståhle, PT, PhD, Karolinska Institute, deputy Chair of Professional Associations for Physical Activity, and editor of FYSS 2008 (Swedish edition), Phone: +46 (0)70-775 71 22, E-mail: Agneta.Stahle@ki.se

Pia Lindeskog, Head of Department of Health Behaviours and Living Environments, Swedish National Institute of Public Health, Phone: +46 (0)63-19 97 67, E-mail: Pia.Lindeskog@fhi.se

Carina Edling, Public Health Planning Officer, Department of Health Behaviours and Living Environments, Swedish National Institute of Public Health, Phone: +46 (0)63-19 97 14, E-mail: Carina.Edling@fhi.se

Pressofficer Johan Landin; johan.landin@fhi.se