CSM’s Health & Fitness Journal®: March – April 2023 | Promoting Physical Activity in Rural Communities During COVID-19 with Exercise is Medicine® on Campus
1 CEC
By Isaac Wedig, MS; Jamie Phillips, MS; Kelly Kamm, PhD; and Steven Elmer, PhD
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we leveraged Exercise is Medicine® on Campus (EIM-OC) at Michigan Technological University to provide critical physical activity resources to Michigan’s rural Upper Peninsula. A team of students, faculty, and fitness professionals: 1) promoted physical activity through a widespread media campaign (i.e., website, social media, radio, newspaper, TV, public townhall) and 2) delivered more than 260 virtual home-based workouts to community members using several platforms (i.e., Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube, TV, DVD). Together, these efforts highlight the extent to which EIM-OC increased physical activity infrastructure (e.g., promotion and resources for engaging in physical activity) during a critical time of need for our rural and underserved community.
