Exercise Referral Schemes in the UK

Exercise referral schemes (ERSs), also known as exercise on prescription, are equivalent to Exercise is Medicine® in the United States. ERSs were established in the early 1990s (1), with aims to reduce physical inactivity within specific clinical populations who are referred for the management and treatment of specific health conditions (2). ERSs are promoted through primary care settings, usually through visits to the general practitioner (GP). ERSs are a low/moderate-risk provision aligned with a prevention model, which therefore excludes unstable or high-risk individuals who may be better suited to other exercise rehabilitation pathways (3).