Exercise Habits of Physical Therapists and Student Physical Therapists as Compared to other Health Care Professionals - a Cross Sectional Survey

Background&Objective: Physical activity is an important component of healthy lifestyle to reduce a person's risk of developing disease and subsequent disability. The endorsement of an active lifestyle is more credible coming from a professional who is physically active. Physical therapy practitioners are among the many health care professionals who can counsel their patients to address the public health care concern of physical activity. Health care providers who are physically active themselves are more likely to counsel patients on the benefits of activity. Hence this study is aimed to examine the leisure-time physical activity habits of physical therapists&student physical therapists and compare these habits with those of other health care professionals.

Method: A cross sectional survey was carried out in Baroda city of India to find out leisure time physical activity habits of physical therapists, student physical therapists and other health care professionals including physicians, students of MBBS, BDS and nursing by using a paper form based survey tool after getting informed consent.

Data Analysis: Total of 852 health care professionals including students was surveyed and 822 were responded out of which 338 were physical therapists and remaining were other health care professionals. Leisure time physical activity was analyzed as Vigorous Activity, Moderate Activity, Combination of both and Strengthening Training. The different exercise levels were compared between physical therapists and other health care professionals by using independent t test. The p value is more than 0.05 in all categories shows that there is no difference between leisure time physical activity of physical therapists and other health care professionals.

Conclusion: Physical therapists and student physical therapists exercised at same rates that are of the other health care professionals in Baroda, India.