Integrating Prescribed Physical Activity as a Primary Care Intervention in Routine Practice

Abstract

Most Canadian adults do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity (PA). Prevalence of physical inactivity has detrimental impacts on health, chronic disease management and healthcare expenditure. Primary care providers are ideally positioned to provide PA counselling. Prescribed PA is an effective method that increases client adherence, combats the barrier of providers’ time limitation and improves perceived quality of care. An approach is outlined which identifies PA as a ‘vital sign’, addresses eligibility for safe activity engagement, develops an individualized prescription that promotes compliance, and establishes routine follow-up. This approach aims to translate effective PA counselling into routine primary care

Most Canadian adults do not achieve recommended levels of physical activity (PA). Prevalence of physical inactivity has detrimental impacts on health, chronic disease management and healthcare expenditure. Primary care providers are ideally positioned to provide PA counselling. Prescribed PA is an effective method that increases client adherence, combats the barrier of providers’ time limitation and improves perceived quality of care. An approach is outlined which identifies PA as a ‘vital sign’, addresses eligibility for safe activity engagement, develops an individualized prescription that promotes compliance, and establishes routine follow-up. This approach aims to translate effective PA counselling into routine primary care.

Keywords: physical activity, exercise, prescribed physical activity, physical activity counselling, preventative healthcare, primary care.