The social supporting conditions are in:

• the demographic development
• the panorama change in the disease patterns
• the increase in the degree of multi-morbidity
• through the increase in sedentary lifestyles
• the increasing recognition given to biopsychosocial approaches in health care (ICF)
• the economising of health care: cost reductions
• quality assurance

With regard to health care, the following developments have risen out of this:

• payment according to case-based lump sums (Diagnosis Related Groups, DRGs)
• Preferred treatment of the chronically ill (Disease Management Programme, DMPs)
• Economic capacity utilisation of the institutions in health care:
  - Inpatient institutions also offer an outpatient department.
  - Out-patient institutions are open for self-paying patients (Fitness cliental)
  - Health centres are pushing into rehabilitation
  - Physiotherapy practices are increasingly offering preventative measures
  - Emergency hospitals offer inpatient and out-patient treatment as well as health promotion
• the degree of separation between rehabilitation and prevention is getting smaller
• there is a higher call for multi-qualified exercise specialists.

That epidemiological foundation and evidence-base of sport and exercise therapy is according to health care science is becoming clearer and clearer.

Health care providers are increasingly recognising the importance of exercise and sport as well as connecting these interventions with behaviour oriented aspects not to mention the special cost-effectiveness of sport and exercise therapy.