As a neurological physiotherapist, I am used to pushing my patients to exercise, but I admit that this is all aimed at achieving certain goals that lead to increased function, e.g. can switch independently between bed and chair, have gait improvement, can use their hemiplegic upper limbs when eating / getting dressed.
Finally, we are constantly asked to focus our actions on achieving SMART goals, with a focus on functionality.
Are we missing a trick here? I think I definitely am because I generally don't educate my patients about the many benefits of exercise / physical activity for physical and mental health. It is so easy to focus on specific, measurable and functional goals that I forget to look at the whole picture, the general life of the person. I wear my "rehab indicators" and consistently align my interventions and the patient's home training program with the physiotherapy goals and ignore the rest of their wellbeing.
A study by Activity Alliance gave me real food for thought. They conducted a British survey comparing the experiences of disabled and non-disabled adults with exercise and physical activity. Here are some of their key results:
Disabled adults are twice as often physically inactive than non-disabled adults (42 percent versus 21 percent).
Four out of five (81%) disabled adults want more exercise than they currently compared to less than three out of five (57%) non-disabled people.
Only 40% of the disabled have the ability to be as active as they want compared to 71% of the non-disabled.
Disabled people agree with half the probability that “sport” is for someone like them (32% vs. 63%).
Three out of five (59 percent) disabled people said they listen to physiotherapists to exercise .
In response to the survey results, the Activity Alliance created the following guidelines:
To address the broader determinants of inactivity
Design and management of a selection of accessible activities
Challenge perceptions through integrative and accessible communication
So that's what Activity Alliance does, but what will I do?
Now that I know that many patients are open to advice on this matter, I am determined to become a physical activity evangelist to improve physical and mental wellbeing and quality of life.
I started putting together some written information and online links to guide people to local activities and facilities.
I plan to align some rehabilitation measures to facilitate sporting / general exercise activities.
