Article

Patients with long-term neurological conditions often have low levels
of physical activity and participation in exercise.
Exercise referral schemes
have been introduced in the UK to encourage physical activity in sedentary and
clinical populations but typically exclude patients with long-term neurological
conditions. We have developed and evaluated an exercise support system for people
with long-term neurological disability, called the Physical Activity Support
System, to enable them to use local gym facilities safely and effectively. The
intervention: We describe the Physical Activity Support System for people with
long-term neurological conditions and provide data on the use of this system in a
phase II randomized controlled study trial. The system has five key components:
access and transport advice, the fitness instructor, the gym, health professional
support and how to exercise safely. Results: Ninety-nine patients with a range of
long-term neurological conditions used six different community exercise
facilities in Oxfordshire and Birmingham. Average gym attendance was one session
per week for 12 weeks. Participants required an average of three 1-hour
face-to-face physiotherapy contacts to achieve this.
The average direct cost for
the support system was pound275. Conclusions: The scheme achieved comparable
exercise participation to standard GP exercise referral schemes operating in the
same centres and offers a relatively cheap, practical and feasible system for
supporting people with long-term neurological conditions.

Langue : ANGLAIS