Medical Fitness Programs
Exercise Is Medicine
The Duke Health & Fitness Center participates in the “Exercise Is Medicine” initiative created by the American College of Sports Medicine. The program focuses on collaboration between doctors and fitness center staff to include exercise in your treatment plan. We’re committed to the treatment and prevention of diseases and provide a variety of counseling and exercise coaching services to help people dealing with diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and cancer.
Supporting Cancer Treatment
Our exercise physiologists are certified American College of Sports Medicine and American Cancer Society cancer exercise specialists. This means you can be confident our exercise physiologists will create an individualized plan based on the most recent research. Our goal is to support your diagnosis, recovery, and improve your quality of life. If you have a My Duke Health account, we can use the secure portal to collaborate with your care team.
Exercise Consultations
We partner with the Duke Cancer Institute Supportive Care and Survivorship Center to provide a free consultation for patients who are currently receiving or have received care at Duke for their cancer diagnosis. Exercise physiologists offer 30-minute sessions between 2:00 and 4:00 pm on Mondays and 8:30 to 11:30 am on Wednesdays. These are appointment-only and hosted virtually. To schedule a consultation, email DHFCCancerExercise@dm.duke.edu.
If you are not a Duke patient, you can schedule a personal training exercise consultation at the Duke Health & Fitness Center by calling 919-660-6660 or emailing DukeHealthandFitnessCenter@duke.edu. These sessions cost $66 for members and $77 for non-members.
Fitness Center Membership
Our clinical membership provides you with a lifestyle counselor who can create personalized exercise plans and track your progress. Learn about our membership options to see how our trained staff can help you.
Diabetes Exercise Program
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, this consultation provides you with the knowledge, goal-setting, and confidence to create a safe and fulfilling exercise plan. During a 60-minute virtual or in-person discussion with an exercise physiologist, you will review your health history, identify the exercise activities that bring excitement to you, and perform any fitness assessments that can help create your personalized plan. Recommendations are documented in your My Duke Health account so your Duke Health providers can be a part of your care team.
If you want additional support after your consultation, you can sign up for virtual or in-person training. Continuing with one of our trained staff can ensure a smooth transition into regular exercise and allows for easy changes to your plan based on your progression.
Pricing and Registration
An initial one-hour consultation costs $66 for members and current participants in the Duke Diabetes Education Program. Non-members pay $77.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, email DHFCClinicalPrograms@duke.edu or call 919-660-6648.
Fitness Center Membership
If you are interested in a long-term plan to achieve health and wellness goals, our clinical membership connects you with a lifestyle counselor who creates ongoing, personalized exercise plans and tracks your progress. Learn about our membership options to see how our trained staff can help you.
Parkinson’s Disease Exercise Program
Our PWR!Moves program helps manage and can slow symptoms of Parkinson's disease by focusing on five types of exercise: cardiovascular efficiency, muscle strength, balance, and walking mechanics, cognitive function, and motor skills. This combination of training targets the ways Parkinson’s disease can impact your daily activities, and is beneficial no matter your ability level.
Our PWR!Moves exercise class runs on a rolling basis, so days and times may change. All participants must provide clearance from their doctor to register. The class costs $44 for members and $51 for non-members per 8-week program.
We are providing a 50% discount on this program with funding from the Warren fund (normal rates are $88/$102). For more information, email DHFCClinicalPrograms@duke.edu or call 919-660-6648.
Requirements for Pulmonary Disease
Because we're not a rehab facility, we have requirements for members dealing with pulmonary disease or recovering from treatment.
- If you need an oxygen delivery device, you must have a clinical membership. This partners you with an exercise physiologist who can keep track of your vitals.
- Oxygen requirements cannot exceed six liters per minute (LPM) during exercise while maintaining a minimum oxygen saturation (SpO2) of 88% or higher.
If lung disease prevents you from exercising with us, Duke Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at Croasdaile (Durham) or Duke Specialty Rehab Services Midtown (Raleigh) may meet your needs.
Helping You Manage Heart Disease
If you have a family history of heart disease or recently completed rehab following a cardiac procedure, we can help you stay healthy or continue your recovery. Our clinical membership connects you with an exercise physiologist who can tailor a workout routine to meet your medical needs. This membership includes regular readings of vital signs. If you're a Duke patient, your progress will be added to your My Duke Health account.