From laboratory to community: Three examples of moving evidence-based physical activity into practice in Canada

Physical activity (PA) is important for enhancing and sustaining people's health and well-being. Although a number of efficacious PA interventions have been developed, few have been translated from research into practice. Consequently, the knowledge-to-practice gap continues to grow, leaving many individuals unable to access evidence-based PA opportunities. This gap may be particularly relevant for those who grapple with poor health due to intrapersonal, interpersonal, cultural and system-level barriers that limit their access to evidence-based PA opportunities. Implementation efforts designed to bring research into real-world settings may bridge the knowledge-to-practice gap. Yet, cultivating quality partnerships and ensuring effectiveness, methodological rigour and scalability in real-world settings can be difficult. Furthermore, researchers seldom publish examples of how they addressed these challenges and translated their evidence-based PA opportunities into practice. Herein, we describe three cases of successful PA implementation among diverse populations: (a) individuals affected by cancer, (b) adults living with prediabetes, and (c) children from under-resourced communities. Commonalities across cases include guiding theories and frameworks, the strategies to facilitate and maintain partnerships, and scalability and sustainability plans. Practical tips and recommendations are provided to spur research and translation efforts that consider implementation from the outset, ultimately ensuring that people receive the benefits PA can confer.