The case of Wellness Valley: promoting physical activity and exercise medicine for a sustainable health care system

We are pleased to announce the recent publication of a scientific article written by our former collaborator Marco Bigica, Research Analyst, together with Riccardo Crisci, Data Scientist at Technogym, and Silvano Zanuso, Director of Scientific Research at the Wellness Foundation and Director of Technogym’s Medical & Scientific Department. The paper, titled “The case of Wellness Valley: promoting physical activity and exercise medicine for a sustainable health care system,” was published in the January issue of the scientific journal Exercise, Sport, and Movement.

The article addresses a highly relevant topic: the need to transform healthcare systems into more sustainable models by focusing on the promotion of physical activity and exercise medicine. The authors highlight how the current healthcare system is primarily focused on treating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) while neglecting prevention, leading to unsustainable consequences both economically and socially.

In this context, the Wellness Valley—an initiative born in Emilia-Romagna and coordinated by the Wellness Foundation—represents an innovative model that integrates the promotion of physical activity and exercise medicine as tools for prevention and public health improvement. Through collaboration between public institutions, private companies, healthcare organizations, and academic institutions, the Wellness Valley has developed a virtuous ecosystem that has resulted in physical activity levels above the national average.

The article highlights some of the successful programs implemented in the Wellness Valley, including awareness campaigns (Chi si muove, si ama!), wellness-themed weeks (Wellness Week), walking groups, and the creation of certified gyms for health promotion. Additionally, it examines the role of exercise prescription by doctors—a practice recognized by the Emilia-Romagna Region since 2014 but still requiring further dissemination and training among healthcare professionals.

This publication represents an important scientific contribution that confirms the value of the strategies adopted in the Wellness Valley and provides valuable insights for the evolution of healthcare systems toward more sustainable and prevention-oriented models.

For further details, the paper is available in the journal Exercise, Sport, and Movement.