Feature

Get Moving!

By Ann Carney | USF News

When USF's College of Education launched its Lit2Go program, an online treasury of classic literature on iTunes U in 2007, no one could have envisioned the program's success — more than 20 million downloads to date.

Now the university is hoping to have that same kind of impact with the launch of Fit2Go, an exercise video collection created by USF Campus Recreation as part of the Exercise is Medicine on Campus initiative.

"I was so impressed with the content that I thought USF should distribute it on iTunes U," says College of Education Dean Colleen Kennedy. "The 'Fit2Go name seemed like a natural extension of our extremely popular Lit2Go series."

That was music to the ears of Aaron Craig, assistant director of fitness at the Campus Recreation Center.

Craig, along with a team of students and professionals from Campus Recreation, was instrumental in developing the online exercise library that was first made available on the department's website last year. The interactive library allows users to point and click on a specific muscle or muscle group and then choose from a selection of videos that demonstrate how to safely and effectively perform suggested exercises.

Response to the library has been overwhelmingly positive, says Craig. "I've received calls and emails complimenting the site and requesting even more exercises."

Having the library available on iTunes U means access to a wider audience. And that's the idea behind the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) initiative — getting the word out about the benefits of exercise and physical activity.

In September, the USF EIM task force issued its report on opportunities to encourage and promote physical activity at USF. The interdisciplinary task force was created by USF President Judy Genshaft as an on-campus extension of the national EIM initiative developed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Alan Kent, assistant vice president for health and wellness, and co-chair of the task force, says the initiative makes sense for USF. Provost Ralph Wilcox serves on the national advisory board of the ACSM, and both he and Genshaft have made a commitment to integrating exercise and wellness into daily life at USF.

"We are excited to participate in this effort because it is consistent with the strategic goals and objectives of Wellness USF — the coalition of Student Affairs departments dedicated to student well-being," says Kent.

Among those departments is Student Health Services which now includes physical activity as a vital sign, just like heart rate, temperature and blood pressure. New students are asked about their level of physical activity and provided with recommendations. Where appropriate, students are referred to a health and fitness professional at the Campus Recreation Center.

In its September report, the EIM task force made a series of recommendations to support the on-campus initiative. They included installing elevator signage encouraging the use of stairs; developing an EIM On Campus Web page; installing sidewalks and water fountains in key locations, especially along walking trails; and expanding the successful "Borrow our Bikes" program.

Now, the university's Healthy Campus Coalition will focus on implementing the recommendations as well as developing broader campus wellness initiatives.

While that work gets under way, Craig and her colleagues are developing programs and resources to promote and encourage physical activity.

This summer, Craig and Katie Jones, a licensed dietitian with USF Wellness Education, along with a health psychologist from the USF Counseling Center, will pilot a 12-week program for students at risk for cardiovascular, pulmonary or metabolic disease. Fitness, nutrition and behavioral change experts will educate, motivate and support students as they progress toward making physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices part of their everyday lives.

And, through collaboration with the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR) and Larry Collins, an instructor in the Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, Craig and her team have identified nine walking routes in and around campus with distances up to 1 1/2 miles, some leading to Campus Rec's parcourse. Exercise science students, along with representatives from Students With Disabilities Services, have walked the routes to identify potential hazards as well as drinking fountains, restrooms and shaded areas along the routes. Once finalized, the routes will be made available on the Campus Recreation website.

In February, as part of National Recreational Sports & Fitness Week, the department collaborated with exercise science faculty to host the first EIM Lecture Series. In addition, an OpenStreetMap party — a collaboration with CUTR, the Bicycle Club and the Department of Geography — invited walkers, runners, skateboarders and rollerbladers to map their favorite routes around campus using a GPS. In May, for the second time, USF will celebrate "Exercise is Medicine Month," as officially proclaimed by Florida Governor Rick Scott and President Genshaft.

While there's no shortage of opportunities for physical activity around campus, the highest tech exercise experiences are housed in the recently renovated Campus Recreation Center. The NBC Today show recently called the center "one of the highest tech fitness centers in the nation." Each of the center's 45 TechnoGym cardio machines is connected to the Web and more than half of its cardio equipment features a personal viewing screen where users can experience on-demand music videos, television programs, playlists and movie trailers.

But, according to Craig, "where" you exercise isn't necessarily the focus. It's "that" you exercise.

"I want to meet people wherever they are — whether it's an avid exerciser or a beginner," she says. "Through technology, we are able to provide a myriad of opportunities to engage in physical activity both on and off campus. We not only need to spread the word that 'Exercise is Medicine,' we also need to lead by example."

Related Links

• Fit2Go on iTunes U
• Special Report: Exercise and Healthy Living