Physical therapists do not engage in physical activity
Lack of physical activity, is considered a common risk factor for several non-communicable diseases (NCDs). One might imagine that increasing physical activity, even in general, would reduce the burden of disease from major NCDs and increase life expectancy. Undergraduate physiotherapy students, representing a group of young adults who are expected to have a good knowledge of physical activity, conducted a study to assess the physical activity levels of undergraduate physiotherapy students at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, to determine the motivations and barriers to participating in physical activity.
2013.
All undergraduate physiotherapy students studying at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka were invited to participate in the study.
Phase 1 was a quantitative study to assess physical activity levels and Phase 2 was a qualitative study to identify motivations and barriers to physical activity and sport in the same cohort. Physical activity levels (Phase 1) were assessed using the interviewer administered International Physical Activity Questionnaire (long version). The qualitative study (Phase 2) was conducted with the same population using focus group discussions (n = 3) and individual in-depth interviews (n = 5).
Results.
The sample sizes for Phase 1 and Phase 2 were 113 and 87, respectively.
The mean age (±SD) of the participants was 23.4 ± 1 years and the mean total weekly MET minutes (±SD) of the study population was 1791.25 ± 3097.
According to the IPAQ category scores, a higher percentage of participants were "inactive" (48.7%), while only 15.9% were "very active". It appears that the lack of support and encouragement for sports activities received in childhood played an important role in the continuation of athletic behavior into adulthood.
The prioritization of academic activities by both parents and teachers of the participants also played a role, suggesting the importance of the environment and support from teachers, family and friends in initiating and adhering to sports and physical activity.
In conclusion, about half of the undergraduate students who are aspiring to become physiotherapists at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, were not physically active and the reason for not being physically active was influenced by a lack of interest in sports activities from childhood.
Ranasinghe, C., Sigera, C., Ranasinghe, P. et al. Physical inactivity among physiotherapy undergraduates: exploring the knowledge-practice gap. Sports Sci Med Rehabil 8, 39 (2016). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-016-0063-8
Conclusion
The content of this study showed that a large percentage of students aspiring to become physiotherapists do not engage in physical activity.
Why do they not engage in physical activity? According to the study, there are many reasons, such as lack of opportunities to do sports activities since childhood, lack of support for activities, limited sports activities due to academic commitments, and low self-efficacy.
As it is a personal issue, people can do or not do physical activities as they wish, but as a physical therapist, I am in a position to recommend physical activities, but if the person does not do them, it may not be convincing.As mentioned in the study, what if the person who recommends strength training doesn't do it? What about people who tell you to exercise, but have a body shape that is not exercised? This is also the psychology of the patient, so if physical activity is recommended, it is recommended that they should do it too.
As is common with medical professionals, people who say they need to lose weight are fat, people who say they need to be flexible are stiff, people who say they need to be energetic! I had the impression that some people's credibility with the patients was going down the drain, without reason.
Therapeutic intervention has nothing to do with you! but please reconsider from the perspective of the person being instructed. Don't smoke! But think about it from the perspective of the person being instructed. How did you feel when the teacher who told you not to smoke was taking a break in the smoking room? Lose weight! How would you feel if the person who told you to lose weight was fat?
There are theories and theories, but people are emotional creatures, so if you are in a position to teach, you need to be able to teach, otherwise no one will follow you.
