Keeping people active over time - what works?
- Details
- Published on Monday, 10 July 2006
Reflection on how schemes incorporate characteristics of known effective interventions may help increase longer term adherence. Review level evidence of healthcare and community settings suggests that:
- Referral to an exercise specialist in the community can lead to longer term (>8 months) changes in physical activity
- Interventions based on behaviour change theories, which teach behavioural skills an are tailored to individual needs, are associated with longer term changes in behaviour than interventions without a theoretical base
- Interventions that promote moderate intensity physical activity, particularly walking, and are not facility dependent, are also associated with longer term changes in behaviour
- Studies that incorporate regular contact with an exercise specialist tend to report sustained changes in physical activity
Reference: Hillsdon M. et al. 2005. The effectiveness of public health interventions for increasing physical activity amongst adults: a review of reviews (2nd edition). London. HDA. Accessible via
The benefits of securing access to a physical activity practitioner, in much the same way as primary care currently refers to a dietitian, soon become apparent, particularly where specialist technical knowledge about exercise and adaptations to exercise are concerned.