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.
Relevant publications
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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
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