Physical Activity

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Definition

Physical activity (PA) is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. WHO

Physical activity as a public health priority

Physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths globally.  This article byLee 2012 concludes that "Physical inactivity has a major health effect worldwide".

Benefits of Physical Activity The benefits of physical activity are far reaching and cover both prevention and management of long term conditions.  The British Heart Foundation has published a document that summarises the research that supports the use of physical activity to:

• prevent ill health and reduce the number of people dying prematurely
• enhance mental health, quality of life and self-reported wellbeing
• delay the need for care in older adults (age 65+)
• reduce health inequalities and improve wider factors influencing health and wellbeing

Global Strategy 

Recognising the unique opportunity that exists to formulate and implement an effective strategy for substantially reduce deaths and disease burden worldwide by improving diet and promoting physical activity, WHO has adopted, in May 2004, the "Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health".

The Global Strategy has 4 main objectives:

1. Reduce risk factors for chronic diseases that stem from unhealthy diets and physical inactivity through public health actions.
2. Increase awareness and understanding of the influences of diet and physical activity on health an the positive impact of preventive interventions.
3. Develop, strengthen and implement global, regional, national policies and action plans to improve diets and increase physical activity that are sustainable, comprehensive and actively engage all sectors.
4. Monitor science and promote research on diet and physical activity.
   

Physical Activity Guidelines (PAGs)

WHO developed the "Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health" with the overall aim of providing national and regional level policy makers with guidance on the dose-response relationship between the frequency, duration, intensity, type and total amount of physical activity needed for the prevention of NCDs.  They can be read here

Many countries have created their own recommendations, the UK guidelines have recently been summarised in thisinfographic.

Physiotherapy/Physical Therapy (PT) and Physical Activity

PTs have always had a close relationship with exercise, the profession was founded on the work of remedial gymnasts and the profession has a rich history of prescribing rehabilitative exercise.   Despite this literature on physiotherapy as promoters of activity is scant.

The global inactivity crisis and the epidemic of life-style related diseases has created an urgent need to build on our rich history of prescribing exercise and develop our approaches for prescribing PA. Creating a more active population requires joined up thinking and action from many stakeholders; PTs need to be active in engaging with individuals and communities.  PTs have a lot to offer, access to people living with long term conditions, repeat consultations, exercise facilities, credibility with patients, injury often creates "teachable moments", expert knowledge, behaviour change skills to name a few.

Resources

• Verhagen (2008) The physical therapist’s role in physical activity promotion
• Aweto (2013) Knowledge, attitude and practice of physiotherapists towards promotion of physically active lifestyles in patient management.
  
• Holm et al (2015) Does outpatient physical therapy with the aim of improving health-related physical fitness influence the level of physical activity in patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions?
  
• Mulligan (2011) Promoting physical activity for people with neurological disability: perspectives and experiences of physiotherapists.
• Shirley et al (2010) Physical activity promotion in the physical therapy setting: perspectives from practitioners and students

Related Physiopedia Pages

• physical activity in specific long-term conditions
• return on investment for PA interventions
• brief interventions for PA
• barriers to change (for PTs and service users)