Exercise capacity after long-term physical activity on prescription provided by physiotherapists

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Sports Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Physical activity on prescription (PAP) is utilized in Swedish healthcare to enhance patient physical activity.
• Limited data exist on the long-term impact of PAP on exercise capacity.
• This study investigated the long-term effects of PAP on exercise capacity in patients with metabolic risk factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term effects of 4.5 years of PAP treatment on exercise capacity.
• To assess the feasibility of continuous exercise capacity testing in primary care.
• To explore the possibility of long-term behavior change in physically inactive patients.

Main Methods:

• 98 physically inactive patients with metabolic risk factors participated.
• Patients received 4.5 years of physiotherapist-provided PAP, including 11 follow-ups.
• Exercise capacity was tested at baseline and throughout the treatment period.

Main Results:

• 41 patients completed the final test (58% dropout rate).
• A significant increase in exercise capacity (9.1 W, p=0.014) was observed compared to baseline.
• No significant differences in exercise capacity changes were found based on age or gender.

Conclusions:

• Increased exercise capacity suggests potential benefits for longevity.
• The findings support the possibility of long-term behavior change in inactive patients.
• Continuous exercise capacity testing with physiotherapist support is feasible in primary care, though interpretation is limited by dropout rates and lack of a control group.