Nature-based health and therapy
There is an exponentially growing interest in the area of nature-based health and therapy for a variety of excellent reasons, from its potential to increase physical activity, reduce pain, improve mental health outcomes, reduce the environmental footprint of other approaches to healthcare and physical activity, and even contribute to environmental restoration. Sometimes going by the name of nature prescriptions, nature-based rehabilitation, outdoor exercise, greenspace exposure, and others, this page will collate and build on the growing evidence and resources to enable you to implement nature-based approaches in your day-to-day practice.
Putting nature-based health and therapy into practice
Watch all four sessions of our international online symposium held on 16 November 2024 here:
Relevant publications
Struthers, N.A., Guluzade, N.A, Zecevic, A.A., Walton, D.M., Gunz, A. (2024). Nature-based interventions for physical health conditions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Environmental Research, 258: 119421. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.119421
Stanhope, J., & Weinstein, P. (2023). What are green prescriptions? A scoping review. Journal of Primary Health Care, 15(2), 155–161. https://doi.org/10.1071/hc23007
Eliassen, M., Sørensen, B. A., Hartviksen, T. A., Holm, S., & Zingmark, M. (2023). Emplacing reablement: co-creating an outdoor recreation model in the rural Arctic. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, 82(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2023.2273013
Wagenfeld, A., & Marder, S. (2023). Nature-Based Allied Health Practice: Creative and Evidence-Based Strategies. Jessica Kingsley Publishers. https://uk.jkp.com/products/naturebased-allied-health-practice
Doran-Sherlock, R., Devitt, S., & Sood, P. (2023). An integrative review of the evidence for Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) in the management of depression and its potential clinical application in evidence-based osteopathy. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies., 35, 244–255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2023.04.038
Busk, H., Ahler, J., Bricca, A., Mikal Holm, P., Varning Poulsen, D., Skou, S. T., & Tang, L. H. (2023). Exercise-based rehabilitation in and with nature: a scoping review mapping available interventions. Annals of Medicine, 55(2). https://doi.org/10.1080/07853890.2023.2267083
Hartl, A. J., Freidl, J., & Huber, D. (2023). Effects of Alpine Natural Health Resources on Human Health and Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(12), 6144. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20126144
Huber, D., Freidl, J., Pichler, C., Bischof, M., Kiem, M., Weisböck-Erdheim, R., Squarra, G., De Nigris, V., Resnyak, S., Neberich, M., Bordin, S., Zechner, R., & Hartl, A. (2023). Long-Term Effects of Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy on Physical and Mental Health of Couples: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(2), 1469. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20021469
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Postgraduate education pathways
Master in Landscape and Planning (with a specialization in Nature-based therapy and health promotion), at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Vibholm, A. P., Christensen, J. R., & Pallesen, H. (2022). Occupational therapists and physiotherapists experiences of using nature-based rehabilitation. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2021.2023927
Huber, D., Mayr, M., Hartl, A., Sittenthaler, S., Traut-Mattausch, E., Weisböck-Erdheim, R., & Freidl, J. (2022). Sustainability of Hiking in Combination with Coaching in Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Quality of Life. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 3848. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073848
Neberich, M., Gerner, N., Romodow, C., Freidl, J., Huber, D., Weisböck-Erdheim, R., Pichler, C., & Hartl, A. (2022). Positive Effects of Advanced Daylight Supply of Buildings on Schoolchildren—A Controlled, Single-Blinded, Longitudinal, Clinical Trial with Real Constructive Implementation. Buildings, 12(5), 600. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12050600
Pichler, C., Freidl, J., Bischof, M., Kiem, M., Weisböck-Erdheim, R., Huber, D., Squarra, G., Murschetz, P., & Hartl, A. (2022). Mountain Hiking vs. Forest Therapy: A Study Protocol of Novel Types of Nature-Based Intervention. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(7), 3888. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19073888
Hernegger, S. (2022). Incorporating traditional Finnish Winter Swimming into Physiotherapy for treating Chronic Pain: a Systematized Literature Review (Bachelor Thesis). Satakunta University of Applied Sciences, Finland. https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202304276636
Astell-Burt, T., Pappas, E., Redfern, J., & Feng, X. (2022). Nature prescriptions for community and planetary health: unrealised potential to improve compliance and outcomes in physiotherapy. Journal of Physiotherapy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphys.2022.05.016
Stanhope, J., Maric, F., Rothmore, P., & Weinstein, P. (2021). Physiotherapy and ecosystem services: improving the health of our patients, the population, and the environment. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2021.2015814
Garriga, A., Sempere-Rubio, N., Molina-Prados, M. J., & Faubel, R. (2021). Impact of Seasonality on Physical Activity: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010002
Toner, A., Lewis, J. S., Stanhope, J., & Maric, F. (2021). Prescribing active transport as a planetary health intervention – benefits, challenges and recommendations. Physical Therapy Reviews, 26(3), 159–167. https://doi.org/10.1080/10833196.2021.1876598
Stanhope, J., Breed, M. F., & Weinstein, P. (2020). Exposure to greenspaces could reduce the high global burden of pain. Environmental Research, 187, 109641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.109641
Freidl, J., Huber, D., Braunschmid, H., Romodow, C., Pichler, C., Weisböck-Erdheim, R., Mayr, M., & Hartl, A. (2020). Winter Exercise and Speleotherapy for Allergy and Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(10), 3311. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9103311
Vibholm, A. P., Christensen, J. R., & Pallesen, H. (2020). Nature-based rehabilitation for adults with acquired brain injury: a scoping review. International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 30(6), 661–676. https://doi.org/10.1080/09603123.2019.1620183
Prossegger, J., Huber, D., Grafetstätter, C., Pichler, C., Weisböck-Erdheim, R., Iglseder, B., Wewerka, G., & Hartl, A. (2019). Effects of moderate mountain hiking and balneotherapy on community-dwelling older people: A randomized controlled trial. Experimental Gerontology, 122, 74–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exger.2019.04.006
Niedermeier, M., Grafetstätter, C., Kopp, M., Huber, D., Mayr, M., Pichler, C., & Hartl, A. (2019). The Role of Anthropogenic Elements in the Environment for Affective States and Cortisol Concentration in Mountain Hiking—A Crossover Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(2), 290. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16020290
Huber, D., Grafetstätter, C., Proßegger, J., Pichler, C., Wöll, E., Fischer, M., Dürl, M., Geiersperger, K., Höcketstaller, M., Frischhut, S., Ritter, M., & Hartl, A. (2019). Green exercise and mg-ca-SO4 thermal balneotherapy for the treatment of non-specific chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled clinical trial. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 20(1), 221. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-019-2582-4
Haslinger, S., Huber, D., Morawetz, D., Blank, C., Prossegger, J., Dünnwald, T., Koller, A., Fink, C., Hartl, A., & Schobersberger, W. (2019). Feasibility of Ski Mountaineering for Patients Following a Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Descriptive Field Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(9), 1582. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091582
Prossegger, J., Huber, D., Grafetstätter, C., Pichler, C., Braunschmid, H., Weisböck-Erdheim, R., & Hartl, A. (2019). Winter Exercise Reduces Allergic Airway Inflammation: A Randomized Controlled Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(11), 2040. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16112040
Header image by Youhana Nassif on Unsplash