What's the best way to motivate patients to exercise?

Abstract

There is no single best strategy to motivate patients to exercise, given the lack of data from rigorous comparison studies. There are, however, several interventions for adults that are effective. They include: writing a patient-specific behavioral health ���green�۝ prescription, encouraging patients to join forces with accountability partners or support groups, recommending the use of pedometers (strength of recommendation [SOR]: A, meta-analyses). In children and adolescents, multi-component strategies that include school-based interventions combined with either family or community involvement increase physical activity (SOR: A, systematic review).