Physicians can help patients link physical improvements to exercise. Keeping an exercise log is useful if it helps patients to monitor how they feel and allows them to track and observe improvements in their pulse and blood pressure. It's helpful for physicians to adjust how they view patient relapse into sedentary patterns. Relapse to old habits is so common that it can be expected and presents an ideal opportunity to learn what worked, what didn't, and what life events broke the pattern. Usually, something in the patient's life, such as work or family, becomes a greater priority.
Illness is a notorious reason for relapse.
It is often helpful to tell patients to call or make an appointment when they've relapsed. A brief counseling session can help patients learn why they stopped exercise. Physicians can help relapsers avoid shame and demoralization by encouraging patients to stay in the cycle of change, moving quickly back to determination. Relapse is a reminder that the path to change is never a straight one. A Report of the Surgeon General.