Exercise dependence: a problem for sports physiotherapists

Twenty-four postgraduate-trained sports physiotherapists were interviewed to investigate their experiences with exercise dependent patients. The respondents identified exercise dependent patients as likely to continue physical activity when injured. They were described in terms such as anxious, obsessive, overachieving and addicted to feelings. The majority of physiotherapists (71 per cent) reported problems in communicating with and gaining compliance from exercise dependent patients. Treatment approaches listed by the respondents included education, prescribing reduced or alternative activities, referral and psychological strategies. Most physiotherapists reported that they used combinations of these strategies. Within the limits of generalising from the present sample, it appears that sports physiotherapists are aware of the difficulties of managing exercise dependent patients and have developed specific techniques to cope with the problems of treating them.