A qualitative study providing insight into physiotherapist's practice of physical activity and exercise in daily routine

Physical activity (PA) is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical inactivity is defined as achieving less than 30 minutes PA per week. Physical inactivity leads to its consequential effects leading to high chances of mortality because of the emergence of the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and many others. PA protects, reverses or reduces the impact of the NCDs and their comorbidities. PA is considered as worldwide public health priority. The physiotherapists can become the key role for reshaping physical inactivity on basis of their skills and their knowledge of PA, guided by health promotion interventions that aim to prevent NCDs or their sequelae.

To investigate current practices, & training needs for the promotion of physical activity and exercise in physiotherapy practices.

A total of 84 physiotherapists participated in the cross-sectional survey consisting of questions focusing on the management of patients in whom physical inactivity has been identified.

The respondents ranged in age from 20 to 56 with the mean age of 24. Respondents reported that regularly assess and advice the patients for PA but only 22.6% therapists give written prescriptions for PA. 46.4% therapists reported that it is high priority to address patients with physical inactivity. 47.6% therapists are very confident in taking assessments of physically inactive clients.

Findings showed the potential for physiotherapists to address physical inactivity. More material promoting PA should be made available to the practising physiotherapists. More strategies should be developed to promote PA.