Can physical therapists counsel patients with lifestyle-related health conditions effectively? A systematic review and implications

Abstract

Multiple health behavior change needs to be a primary twenty-first century clinical competence in physical therapy. Future studies will establish the degree to which effective health counseling augments physical therapy as well as health outcomes, in the long as well as short term.

Health education strategies used by physical therapists to promote behaviour change in people with lifestyle-related conditions: A systematic review

“…Generally, some merit or support can be found for the strategies and attributes reported in the health practitioner-oriented literature [22]. Although no study in our cohort systematically described either how the selection of the educational strategies of interest was informed or their attributes, we have previously shown that physical therapists can effect health behaviour change in patients, at least in the short term [36].…”

“…Physical therapists were typically identified as specialists in clinical exercise because of their unique professional education [19,28,30], clinical set-up [28], and practice patterns [29]. Although physical therapists are uniquely positioned and suited to counsel regarding physical activity and can do this effectively as least in the short-run [36], common counselling principles could be extended to other health behaviours, to address chronic lifestyle-related conditions [29]. Although the promotion of physical activity is an essential attribute of effectively reducing the risk of lifestyle-related conditions [19,30,37], physical therapists appear less likely to address other lifestyle risk factors such as smoking and suboptimal nutrition [29].…”

Community group exercise versus physiotherapist-led home-based physical activity program: barriers, enablers and preferences in middle-aged adults

“…Physiotherapists are effective communicators, establishing rapport, gaining trust, supporting and empowering an individual (Mueller, 2010). These skills, along with a possible preference for physical activity advice from a health professional, indicate that physiotherapists may have an important role to play in increasing middle-aged adults physical activity levels (Frerichs, Kaltenbacher, Johannes Peter, and Dean, 2012).…”

Effects of an Education and Home-Based Pedometer Walking Program on Ischemic Heart Disease Risk Factors in People Infected with HIV

“…The increase pedometer step count in the control group can be explained as follows: literature suggest that when individuals are included in a control group, and participate in clinical trial assessments, their activity could alter because of being more aware of their behavior. 46 Blinding participants to assessment activities were not possible. The 6MWT distance improved in the intervention group and resulted in a significant between-group effect.…”