The benefits of physical activity are proven; activity has preventative and therapeutic health benefits, yet the vast majority of people remain inactive. The cost of treating chronic diseases related to inactivity is escalating rapidly. Despite the overwhelming amount of data most health professionals miss the opportunity to prescribe exercise even when treating chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The same applies to chronic musculo-skeletal problems such as those treated at PHYSIOSOUTH such a low back pain, chronic shoulder or elbow pain etc.
What lies behind this striking paradox, this inconsistency between knowledge and practice? If we consider inactivity as a “disease” or pre disease in the same way we consider smoking to be such, surely we are morally obligated to get things going. Perhaps also governments need to take this responsibility on.
Current interventions are not being well used (they create too many barriers), gyms do it but less than 10% use gyms. Is there somewhere in between? Currently we at PHYSIOSOUTH can provide that link or interface (we have been for years). As managers of disability we aim to progress our clients to ability (exercise for life or performance) via our only tool, the gym and the expertise in the gym. We try very hard not to miss this opportunity to educate and steer our clients into “exercise for life”.
Consider community based “exercise for life or performance” consultants, trained professionally, interfacing with PHYSIOSOUTH sharing facilities and working within the existing framework. A parallel service operating in the paradigm we know, having direct relationships with GP’s and funded on the basis of cost effectiveness. Referral made the same way, based on the clients needs for disability management or ability management. It would change the health of the community!
Graeme Nuttridge
DIRECTOR
PHYSIOSOUTH
Questions/Comments >>
