[Washington, DC] –  A new study led by the Physical Activity Alliance and authors from the American Heart Association, the American College of Sports Medicine and others shows that supervised exercise therapy—delivered in small groups and tailored to individual needs—is not only an effective strategy to improve health outcomes for adults with chronic conditions, but also a cost-effective investment for the healthcare system.

The study, titled “A Review of the Cost-Effectiveness of Supervised Exercise Therapy for Adults with Chronic Conditions in the United States,” evaluates the economic impact of exercise programs for individuals with chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, anxiety, depression, obesity, and increased fall risk.

Key Findings:

• For every $1 spent on supervised exercise therapy, there is a return on investment of $1.15 to $1.70.
• Estimates showed that participants in these community-based programs could experience significant savings on health care costs—between $121 and $2,834 per year.

“Physical activity is more than a lifestyle choice—it’s an essential part of chronic disease management,” said Michael Stack, President of the Physical Activity Alliance. “This study provides early evidence that investing in supervised exercise therapy is a smart, scalable way to reduce the burden of chronic disease and rising health costs.” 

Despite its proven benefits, physical activity remains underused as a formal part of patient care. Most existing cost-effectiveness studies have focused only on services like cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation, which are already reimbursed. This new review fills a critical gap by evaluating under-studied, high-need interventions not yet covered by insurance or broadly implemented.

Policy & Practice Implications

The findings strongly support broader integration of supervised exercise programs into healthcare delivery systems. The authors recommend stronger connections between clinical care and community-based programs so patients can be “prescribed” supervised exercise as part of their care plans. 

Call for Further Research

To build on these results, the paper calls for additional research with larger sample sizes and standardized economic evaluations across diverse populations and delivery models. This research is essential to guide public and private investments and ensure cost-effective strategies are scaled nationally.

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About the Physical Activity Alliance

The Physical Activity Alliance is the nation’s largest coalition dedicated to improving health and well-being through physical activity. We use our collective voice to lead efforts that create, support, and advocate for the policy and systems changes necessary to empower people to enjoy active living.