Exercise is Medicine Singapore

28/09/2026

If exercise were available as a pill, would you prescribe it? 💊

We recently interviewed Exercise is Medicine Singapore (EIMS)'s Deputy Education Director, Dr Mandy Zhang, about exercise prescription, and her insights were eye-opening. We covered the basics: what it is, safety considerations, and tips for getting started. What stood out the most was that exercise isn't just complementary care - it's essential medicine. Exercise can often serve as a primary treatment, altering human biology in ways that medication cannot replicate.

If you're a physician curious about integrating exercise prescription into your practice but unsure where to begin, this is a great place to start.

Join us at our next course on Saturday 28 November 2026!

Visit https://singapore.exerciseismedicine.org/eims-in-action/healthcare/primary-care-physician-course-blended/ or enquire directly :)

21/09/2026

Our health is not only shaped by what happens in the doctor’s room — it is also shaped by the choices we make every day. 🏃‍♀️🥗

This Straits Times article highlights an important reminder: patients are experts in their own lives. When life gets busy, taking charge of our health does not always mean making big changes — small, sustainable steps count too, whether it is taking the stairs instead of the lift, moving a little more, or making healthier choices. Lifestyle habits can work alongside medical treatment as an important part of managing our health.

EIMS also believes that helping patients make meaningful lifestyle changes starts with understanding what matters to them. This is why Motivational Interviewing is included in our Exercise Prescription course for doctors — equipping healthcare professionals with practical skills to support patients in taking ownership of their health.

There is a case for treating patients as equals in their own care. Read more at straitstimes.com.

14/09/2026

Join us for a bilingual health talk on sarcopenia, strength and mobility, to be delivered by Dr Fadzil Hamzah, Senior Staff Physician, Sport & Exercise Medicine, Changi General Hospital and EIMS Director of Community Programmes.

Learn more about sarcopenia and age-related muscle loss, how to build strength safely, and practical ways to maintain mobility and independence as we age. 🌿

📅 Tuesday, 29 September 2026
🕝 2.30–4.00 pm
📍 Brahm Centre, Blk 148 Simei Street 1, #01-121
🗣️ English & Malay
🎤 Topic: Sarcopenia, Strength, Mobility and Independence in Later Life

Come learn, move and age actively — because stronger muscles can support a more independent life. 💜

09/09/2026

📍 We’re at Medical Fair Asia 2026!

A great start to RehaCare Asia today, with Dr Fadzil Hamzah, EIMS Director of Community Programmes, sharing his insights as a panellist on building stronger connections between healthcare, community and preventive health.

And we’re just getting started! 💪

Come say Hello at EIMS educational booth too — We are here until this Friday!

📍 Marina Bay Sands
📅 9–11 September 2026
📌 EIMS Booth: Unit 1P05

See you there! 👋

08/09/2026

What if your health plan could also suggest exercise that fits you? ✅🤖✍️🧑🏻‍⚕️

Finding the right type and intensity of exercise can sometimes be a challenge. Health Plan AI aims to make this a little easier by using information from a person's Healthier SG plan, preferences and activity levels to generate more personalised exercise recommendations.

The AI can help bring together different pieces of information and turn them into practical suggestions, making exercise guidance more relevant and accessible to each person.

Technology is only part of the picture. The exercise-related content was developed and validated with input from healthcare professionals, including our EIMS Director of Community Programmes, Dr Fadzil Hamzah, who contributed as the subject matter expert for physical activity content.

It's an interesting example of how AI and healthcare expertise can come together to support people in becoming more physically active.

Find out more in The Straits Times article 👇

Ministry of Health, Singapore
Health Promotion Board, Singapore

Discover the new AI tool generating personalised exercise plans for eligible Healthier SG enrollees, aiming to boost fitness and health. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

01/09/2026

One of the fitness professionals interviewed in this article attended our Exercise Prescription course recently! We hope fitness trainers find meaningful application of the principles of exercise prescription in their line of work.

If you noticed loved ones showing less confidence in their daily movements or going slower than they used to, rest assured it happens to the best of us! It is important to address any pushbacks and you’re not alone if you’re facing resistance from your parents to exercise.

The good news is that it is never too late to start strength training. In addition, the real boost is that it can help seniors regain confidence and independence in daily life.

The key is choosing the right exercises and adjusting the intensity – not avoiding exercise altogether. This hustle is definitely worth it in the long run💪💪

Weakening muscles don't only increase the risk of falls in seniors. A new study suggests sarcopenia may also reduce the body's cancer-suppressing ability. Here’s why strength training is one of the best things your parents can do – along with exercise demonstrations by a 77-year-old.

24/08/2026

Regular physical activity is one of the key pillars of managing diabetes, alongside a healthy diet and medication. And having complications like neuropathy doesn't mean you have to stop moving — in fact, you may need it even more.

Here's what to keep in mind if you have diabetic neuropathy:
▪️Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage in the limbs): Opt for low-impact activities like swimming, water aerobics, recumbent bikes, tai chi, or yoga. Always wear proper footwear and check your feet before and after exercise.
▪️ Autonomic neuropathy (damage to the central nervous system): Stick to light-intensity aerobic exercises like brisk walking or qi gong. Use the Talk Test instead of heart rate to gauge your effort, stay well hydrated, and monitor your blood glucose more frequently.

The benefits of exercise far outweigh the risks. All it takes is finding the right programme for your body.
💪 Move more, manage better.

Even with diabetes complications, people with diabetes (diabetics) should continue to exercise. Know what exercises to do and how to do them safely.

17/08/2026

Exercise doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated! 💪🏼✨
What better way to make new friends than our childhood games like hopscotch and chapteh?
Discover fun, accessible ways to stay active! Go easy if you haven’t done these in a while, and remember to do some stretching as warm up

There are many fun and exciting ways to embark on a healthy lifestyle and reap the benefits of physical activity without having to spend a ton of money. Engaging in at least 150-300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity weekly can help prevent Type-2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood p...

11/08/2026

Dragged yourself to work today? Well, this should change your mind! Short bursts of high-intensity exercise throughout the day can have the best payoff in terms of health benefits. Take that brisk walk to refill your water flask, or anything to break the sedentary part of the day (or right about 4pm when we usually reach for snacks). Get up and move today!! Against the grind 💪 If it makes you feel better, the first 2000-4000 steps daily makes the real difference. 😊💯

It is a useful target but consider too how fast you walk. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

04/08/2026

Did you know that staying active is one of the best things you can do to manage chronic disease — at any age?

Clinical Asst Prof Ivy Lim, EIMS Director of Public Outreach, shares why exercise matters for your joints, heart, and overall health, and how to get started safely. The key? Chronic disease is not a barrier to exercise. Start with low intensity exercises and increase gradually.

Research shows that active adults have a 36% lower risk of dying from any cause, and a 31% lower risk of dying from heart disease. That's a compelling reason to get moving!

If you haven't exercised in a while, there's no need to go all out on day one. Start slow and increase the volume of your exercise gradually — there are 4 variables to work with: frequency, intensity, time and type. Change only one at a time.

And even on days you can't exercise, remember that each additional hour of daily sitting is linked to more fat around the heart — so interrupt prolonged sitting by getting up and moving every 30–40 minutes.

Read the full article to find out more! 💪

Learn how exercise can help the elderly manage joint pain and reduce muscle atrophy, with practical tips to get started and stay active.