15 Feb What’s that – exercise can actually save you money?

Although we know that there are many forms of exercise that are free; working out at home, practicing Pilates via YouTube, walking your dog etc…we generally associate exercise with some form of cost. Whether this be your weekly gym membership, your fortnightly personal training sessions, or even just that expensive ‘on-trend’ workout gear – these costs can put us off committing to exercising long term. Once the free trial is over, we question whether we can afford it or whether that money could be better spent elsewhere.

So what if we told you that exercising right could actually save you money in the long run?!

A recent report published by Deloitte Access Economics found that the value of engaging with an Accredited Exercise Physiologist could save a person between $1,075 – $8,293 annually!

The report looked at 5 chronic conditions in-particular:

• Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Depression
• Asthma

The report looked at how intervention of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist could dramatically reduce someone living with one of these chronic conditions health system expenses (hospitals, medication, appointments with other health professionals etc.), productivity losses (reduced employment, sick leave, carer costs etc.) and general wellbeing costs.

Depression

Depression affects many Australians every year, around 846,000 males and 1.2 million females.

Exercise has been found to have numerous positive effects on mental health and depression including:

• Reduced symptoms
• Improved sleep quality
• Increased engagement with treatment
• A decrease in social isolation
• Increased self esteem

The report estimates that as many of 22% of cases of depression could be averted through accredited exercise physiology interventions, and 20% out of pocket expenses could be saved – with the overall dollar benefit to be $6,025 a year.

The cost of AEP interventions is estimated to be $824, with $559 of that being out-of-pocket expenses.

This is a net saving of $5,467 annually!

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes affects more than 1 million Australians a year. Obesity and inactivity are key health risk factors that people living with Type 2 Diabetes commonly have. Involving AEP’s to get people to be more active is one of the key benefits to engaging their services to tackle this condition.

The report estimates that as 68% out of pocket expenses could be saved by accredited exercise physiologist intervention, comprised mostly of improved wellbeing, followed by reduced health system expenses and improved productivity- with the overall dollar benefit to be $3,197 a year.

The cost of AEP interventions is estimated to be $580, with $377 of that being out-of-pocket expenses.

This is a net saving of $2,820 annually!

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

More than 1.2 million Australians gave CVD. Regular, moderate intensity exercise, prescribed and delivered by an AEP has been shown to result in the following beneficial effects:

• Prevents further narrowing of the bloody vessels (anti-atherosclerotic)
• Prevents bloody clotting (anti-thrombotic)
• Help to deliver bloody to the heart (anti-ischemic)
• Help to maintain a normal heart rhythm (anti-arrhythmic)

This improvement in the physical functioning of the heart reduce symptoms and risk of death from CVD.

The report estimates the overall dollar benefit to be $8,293 a year with accredited exercise physiologist intervention.

The cost of AEP interventions is estimated to be $952, with $687 of that being out-of-pocket expenses.

This is a net saving of $7,606 annually!

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

COPD covers a range of progressive lung diseases such as emphysema, refractory asthma, chronic bronchitis and some forms of bronchiectasis. Approximately 600,000 Australians live with COPD, predominantly emphysema or bronchitis.

A sedentary lifestyle is a key health risk factor that commonly coexists for with COPD. PR (Pulmonary Rehabilitation) is commonly prescribed and delivered by an AEP to help manage COPD. Primarily this is achieved by reducing symptoms and improving exercise tolerance.

The report estimates the overall dollar benefit to be $6,889 a year with accredited exercise physiologist intervention.

The cost of AEP interventions is estimated to be $525, with $250 of that being out-of-pocket expenses.

This is a net saving of $6,629 annually!

Asthma

Asthma affects almost 2.5 million Australians. Despite the risk that exercise may exacerbate asthmatic symptoms – exercise interventions delivered by an AEP are an affect means of improving respiratory function.

The report estimates the overall dollar benefit to be $1,075 a year with accredited exercise physiologist intervention.

The cost of AEP interventions is estimated to be $1,097, with $832 of that being out-of-pocket expenses.

This is a net saving of $241 annually!

All of the findings above indicate that Accredited Exercise Physiologist interventions are highly valuable to individuals living with Depression, Asthma, COPD, CVD, or Type 2 diabetes, and a range of other chronic conditions.

So instead of considering whether you can afford to exercise, the question you should be asking is can you really afford not to? Providing you seek the advice of an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and exercise right for your condition; the initial cost can in fact save you money in the long run, and increase your quality of life!

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