In our latest episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, powered by the Medicine-Rehab-Fitness Institute and the Medical Fitness Association, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Amy Bantham, CEO of Move to Live More and former president of the Physical Activity Alliance. Amy shared insights from her extensive research on integrating healthcare with health and fitness, including the barriers clinicians face when referring patients to fitness programs. She highlighted the importance of building trust between healthcare providers and fitness professionals and emphasized the need for standardized qualifications in the fitness industry.

We also explored Move to Live More’s mission to bridge the gap between healthcare and community-based fitness, ensuring that patients receive effective, evidence-based exercise prescriptions. Amy discussed how small changes, like incorporating physical activity data into electronic health records, can significantly improve patient outcomes and support clinicians in promoting exercise as medicine.

This episode is a must-listen for clinicians and fitness professionals dedicated to enhancing patient care through physical activity. Don’t miss out on these game-changing strategies to create seamless healthcare-to-fitness referral pathways!

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#MedicalFitness #ExerciseIsMedicine #HealthcareIntegration #MoveToLiveMore #PatientCare #FitnessProfessionals #ExerciseReferrals

Connect with Amy:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/amybantham/

www.movetolivemore.com

www.movetolivemore.com/podcast

www.movetolivemore.com/newsletter

www.movetolivemore.com/book

Listen on your favorite channel:

1. MRF Institute: https://www.mrfinstitute.org/podcasts

2. Medical Fitness Association: https://www.medicalfitness.org/medical-fitness-podcast

3. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@themedicalfitnesspodcast

4. Apple: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/my-podcasts/show/the-medical-fitness-podcast/c92ecde2-19e0-499f-825c-0c65fa6bc27b/episodes

5. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5W888QKdHRQIB2zc5CDfly

6. Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/fd14c612-43d0-464d-ae9b-adc22d6983ed/the-medical-fitness-podcast

7. TuneIn + Alexa: https://tunein.com/podcasts/Health--Wellness-Podcasts/The-Medical-Fitness-Podcast-p3709603/?topicId=347492014

8. Podcast Index: https://podcastindex.org/podcast/6134311

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In this insightful episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, co-hosts Jeff Young and David Flench sit down with Dr. Cedric Bryant, the President and CEO of the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Dr. Bryant shares his personal journey from academia to his current leadership role at ACE, highlighting how he integrates science-backed education and behavior change strategies into fitness programming. The conversation explores topics such as the importance of evidence-based practices, the need for a continuum between "moving more" and structured exercise, and the role of behavior change in promoting long-term healthy lifestyles.

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the fitness industry, especially regarding collaboration between fitness professionals and healthcare providers. Dr. Bryant emphasizes the importance of networking, lifelong learning, and professionalizing the fitness industry to ensure fitness professionals can effectively contribute to public health initiatives like Active People, Healthy Nation. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a health professional, or simply interested in improving your well-being, this episode offers practical advice and inspiration to keep moving forward.

Tune in to hear more about Dr. Bryant’s career, his approach to effective exercise programming, and the role of fitness professionals in the larger healthcare continuum.

Catch this episode now and start applying these key takeaways to your professional practice or personal fitness journey!

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In this engaging episode of The Medical Fitness Podcast, Dr. Andrew Mock, a leader in lifestyle and preventive medicine, brings listeners into his practice to demonstrate how he seamlessly transitions patients from medical and rehabilitation care into the fitness domain. Using practical assessments like the sit-to-stand test, Dr. Mock shows how simple screens can serve both as interventions and teaching tools, making strength training accessible and relevant for clinicians and patients alike. His approach highlights the current gaps in medical education, particularly regarding resistance training, and the crucial role it plays in optimizing patient outcomes.

Dr. Mock also discusses his proactive efforts to bridge the gap between medicine, rehab, and fitness by personally vetting local fitness professionals to create a trusted referral network. He emphasizes the need for clinicians to better understand and incorporate strength training principles into their practice. This episode is essential listening for clinicians seeking to overcome common barriers to exercise referrals and learn how to collaborate effectively with fitness professionals. Dr. Mock’s unique perspective as both a competitive strength athlete and physician provides valuable insights into why strength training should be a core component of healthcare. This "outside-the-box" thinking is exactly what’s needed to reshape patient care today.

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In this episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, Dr. Laurie Whitsel, a leading policy expert from the American Heart Association and advisor to the Physical Activity Alliance, explores the intersection of public policy and healthcare in promoting physical activity. She discusses the ongoing efforts to make physical activity assessment, prescription, and referral a routine part of clinical care in the U.S. healthcare system. Dr. Whitsel shares exciting initiatives such as the development of standardized measures in electronic health records and the collaboration with healthcare systems to reduce barriers and ensure physical activity becomes part of the clinical workflow.

Listeners will gain insight into the significant policy work being done behind the scenes to create opportunities for qualified exercise professionals to be recognized within the healthcare team and ultimately improve patient outcomes. This episode is packed with actionable insights for fitness professionals, clinicians, and policymakers alike who are interested in the future of physical activity in medicine and the broader movement towards value-based care.

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In this captivating episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast, hosts David Flench and Jeff Young are joined by Michael Stack, a highly respected exercise physiologist, health entrepreneur, and advocate for the fitness industry. Michael's career spans over two decades, and he has made significant strides in elevating the role of fitness professionals within the healthcare system. As the founder of Applied Fitness Solutions and host of the Wellness Paradox Podcast, Michael shares his journey from working in commercial fitness to becoming a prominent voice in medical fitness and policy change.

Listeners will be intrigued by Michael's discussion on the importance of values in both personal and organizational growth, as well as his unique approach to integrating fitness professionals into the healthcare ecosystem. He provides insight into the challenges and opportunities of transitioning from a commercial fitness model to a medical fitness center and offers valuable lessons learned along the way. Michael also highlights his work with the Physical Activity Alliance and his role as guest editor for a special themed issue of the American College of Sports Medicine's Health & Fitness Journal, focusing on the professionalization of exercise professionals.

This episode is packed with insights on advocacy, policy change, and the future of medical fitness, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of fitness and healthcare. Whether you're a fitness professional, healthcare provider, or simply passionate about improving public health, Michael's perspective will leave you inspired and eager to engage in the ongoing transformation of the fitness industry. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from one of the leading voices in medical fitness—tune in to this episode of the Medical Fitness Podcast!

Please be sure to check out Mike's amazing podcast, The Wellness Paradox, at: https://www.wellnessparadoxpod.com/

You can also follow Mike on social media at:
https://www.instagram.com/wellnessparadox/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-stack-b74a5319/

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In this continuation of our conversation with Dr. Bill Kraemer, a leading figure in strength and conditioning research, we explore several key concepts that are crucial for both practitioners and clinicians alike. Dr. Kraemer discusses the significance of periodization in resistance training, emphasizing the need for flexibility and individualized approaches across different rep ranges and training modalities.

He discusses the importance of training across the full continuum of rep ranges to optimize muscle and tendon stiffness, which are critical for enhancing both performance and injury resilience. Dr. Kraemer also sheds light on the foundational principle of motor unit recruitment, known as Henneman’s Size Principle, and its implications for effective strength training. This principle underpins the need for progressive loading to activate higher-threshold motor units, which is essential for both strength gains and neuroplasticity.

Throughout the episode, Dr. Kraemer also touches on the role of strength and conditioning within the broader context of healthcare, advocating for an integrated team approach that spans across medicine, rehabilitation, and performance. His insights provide valuable guidance on how to apply these principles in both athletic and clinical settings, making this episode a must-listen for anyone involved in human performance or patient care.

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Join us as Dr. William Kraemer shares his incredible journey from aspiring football player to world-renowned sports scientist, offering insights into the evolution of strength training and the importance of evidence-based programming - citing his recently published book, "Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance" as a resource. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and practical application.

Dr. Kraemer's Biography:

Dr. William J. Kraemer, Ph.D., FACSM, FNSCA, is a distinguished sports scientist and researcher in strength and conditioning. His illustrious career spans several prestigious academic institutions. Recently retired as a full professor from The Ohio State University (OSU), Dr. Kraemer continues his work as a Research Scientist at OSU, focusing on NIH and Department of Defense grants. He holds the title of Professor Emeritus at the University of Connecticut and has previously held significant positions at Ball State University and Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Kraemer began his academic journey at the University of Connecticut after serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army.

Throughout his career, Dr. Kraemer has made substantial contributions to the field through his extensive research and publications. He has authored over 500 peer-reviewed publications listed on PubMed, along with more than 100 book chapters and 14 books. His expertise continues to shape the field with a recently published book on Athlete Development in 2024 and the 4th edition of his Exercise Physiology text in 2025.

Dr. Kraemer's professional contributions extend beyond his research. He is a Fellow of several prestigious organizations, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). His leadership roles include serving as a past President of the NSCA and as a Board of Directors member of the ACSM. Notably, he founded and served as Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research for 30 years.

His exceptional work has earned him numerous accolades. In 2024, he received the NSCA's Alvin Roy Award for his career contributions to strength and conditioning. He was also awarded the ACSM's Citation Award in 2020. The University of Jyvaskyla in Finland recognized his global impact by awarding him an honorary doctorate in 2016. These are just a few among many prestigious awards he has received in the fields of sports science and strength & conditioning.

Dr. Kraemer's impact on the field is further evidenced by his ranking as one of the top 5 Sports Scientists out of 31,313, according to a 2023 Stanford University study. His significant contributions span physiological sciences and sports sciences, with a particular emphasis on resistance training physiology and athlete development in sports medicine.

Through his extensive research, influential publications, and widespread recognition, Dr. William J. Kraemer has firmly established himself as one of the world's leading sports scientists and strength & conditioning researchers.

Latest Book: Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance

Amazon.com: Developing the Athlete: An Applied Sport Science Roadmap for Optimizing Performance eBook : Kraemer, William J., Ratamess, Nicholas A., Newman, Thomas: Kindle Store

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Join us for this episode with Dr. Jon Bonnet; David Flench and Jeff Young as they talk about Lifestyle Medicine and the importance of disease prevention and overall wellness in our healthcare system. Dr. Jonathan Bonnet is board-certified in family, sports, obesity, and lifestyle medicine. He is an associate professor (affiliate) at Stanford University School of Medicine and the Program Director of Medical Weight Loss at the Clinical Resource Hub Weight Management Center at the Palo Alto VA. Jonathan has a background in exercise physiology and is a certified personal trainer. He completed his undergraduate and medical school degrees at Ohio State University before finishing his family medicine residency at Duke University, and his sports medicine fellowship at the University of Florida. He also holds a master’s degree in public health from Harvard.

Dr. Bonnet serves on the board of the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine and co-chairs the American College of Lifestyle Medicine's (ACLM) 30-hour CME board review course. He also serves as the advisor for the Emory University Lifestyle Medicine Interest Group and previously served on the board of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine. He has co-authored two editions of the Lifestyle Medicine Handbook and the first edition of the Medical Fitness Bible. He has published research in sleep medicine, nutrition, sports and exercise, obesity, and behavior change and serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine.

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