Penn State Berks celebrates Exercise Is Medicine Week

Exercise Is Medicine

The Penn State Berks Kinesiology Department is celebrating Exercise Is Medicine Week from Oct. 2 to 6, 2017.

Credit: Penn State

The Penn State Berks Kinesiology Department is celebrating Exercise Is Medicine Week from Oct. 2 to 6, with a variety of events, including daily 20-minute walks on campus and various activities on the lawn of the Perkins Student Center. All events are open to students, faculty and staff and participants can earn points for the number of activities completed during the week to remit for a water bottle or a T-shirt.

On Monday and Wednesday, activities include Zumba, aerobics and Yoga during the common hour, 12:15 to 1:15 p.m.; a Kinesiology Discover Picnic on Tuesday at 12:30 p.m.; a game of ultimate Frisbee on Thursday at 12:15 p.m.; and a whiffle ball tournament on Friday at 12:15 p.m.

In May 2017, the "Exercise is Medicine on Campus" program at Penn State Berks was recognized as a silver-level program by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the organization that originated the Exercise is Medicine global initiative. The college received its certificate at the ACSM awards program on May 31, at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting in Denver, Colorado.

Silver-level designation focuses on educational opportunities for the campus and community. Silver campuses are actively engaged in educating others on the Exercise is Medicine solution for both the treatment and prevention of long-term illness and disease.

Since 2015, Penn State Berks has held a program called Walk with a Kinesiologist in an effort to transform the campus into a “walkable community.” Kinesiology faculty members take turns leading daily 20-minute walks on campus, meeting at 12:15 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday; and at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.

In addition, upperclassmen in the Kinesiology degree program serve as personal trainers to faculty and staff who sign up for the program and have a physician’s release to participate.

Exercise is Medicine is a global initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine. Exercise is Medicine on Campus calls upon universities and colleges to establish physical activity promotion as a vital sign for health. It encourages making movement as a part of the daily campus culture and providing students with the tools necessary to engage in lifelong physical activity.

Penn State Berks offers the bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology with the Exercise Science Option. For more information about Exercise Is Medicine Week at Penn State Berks, contact Marissa Ruggiero, lecturer in kinesiology, at [email protected] or 610-396-6201. For more information about the Penn State Berks' bachelor of science degree in kinesiology, contact Ben Infantolino, assistant professor in Kinesiology and program coordinator, at [email protected] or 610-396-6153.