Role of physiotherapist to promote physical activity in physical therapy settings: Questionnaire study

Abstract

Background: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for chronic disease. Primary health care practitioners are well placed to promote a physically active lifestyle. The perceptions and practice of physical therapists on their role in physical activity promotion are not well known. Objectives: The aim of the study is to determine the promotion of physical activity in physical therapy settings and to know the attitude of the therapist towards physical activity in relation to patient. The objective of this study was to determine the knowl-edge, confidence, role perception, barriers, feasibility, and counseling practice of physical therapists and physical therapist students Materials and Methods: Physiotherapist both male and female within the age group of 25-34 years who are clinically practicing either in physiotherapy college or private clinics who are handling patients on day to day basis irrespective of type of patients handled will form the subjects for this study. Results: The first questions revealed that 61% of the therapist reportedly encouraged patients to have physical active lifestyle in almost about 6-9 patients, moreover none of the therapist answered the answers in never or rarely. 51% of the therapist agreed that taking stairs at work is enough physical active to improve wealth as shown. the results for half an hour of walking on most days is all the exercise that is needed for good health has been agreed by 54% of physiotherapist. Exercise that is good for health must make you puff and pant has been disagreed by 44% of the subjects and 10% have strongly disagreed. 44% have agreed from the survey that several short walks of 10 minutes is better than one round of long walk per week for good health. Discussing the benefits of physically active lifestyle with patients is a part of physical therapist role have been agreed by 81%. Suggesting patients ways to increase daily physical activity is a part of physical therapists role have been agreed by 83% of the subjects. Only 76% felt confident in giving general advice to patients on physically active lifestyle. 73% of subjects were agreed to feel confident in suggesting specific activity programmes for their patients. overwhelming 100% agreement was found for fact that physical therapist should be physically active to act as a role model for their patients of which 91% strongly agreed and 9% agreed. About own physical activity 54% felt much more active when compared with other Indians of same age and sex. 39% felt slightly more active and 7% about the same. none of them reported with slightly less active or much less active. Conclusion: It is concluded that physiotherapist are basically responsible for encouraging patient for having physically active and also suggest various measures to improve and enhances patients physical active,therefore this study highlight tens the fact that physical therapy not only involves administration of physical exercise but includes advices and means of physical activity promotion.