ABSTRACT
This chapter contextualises current thinking, evidence and understanding in exercise referral to promote sustained exercise behaviour post exercise referral schemes (ERS) completion. It explores how enablement and exit strategies from exercise referral schemes may facilitate sustained exercise. An important part of evaluating is understanding what happens to patients following the scheme in the short and long term. COM-B provides a practical way of seeing how an ERS can influence future exercise behaviour in individuals. Self-determination theory is a popular theory in explaining the motivational processes influencing exercise participation, particularly over a prolonged period. The theory distinguishes between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Exercise referral practitioners should look to target any of these psychological needs in their practices to help patients become more self-determined to exercise. In practice, successful exit strategies begin whilst in the ERS when there is a progressive handover of the nature of the support systems.
