title: Does outpatient physical therapy with the aim of improving health-related physical fitness influence the level of physical activity in patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate any change in self-reported level of physical activity in patients receiving a general physical exercise programme in addition to disease-specific physiotherapy treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre-post-intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient physiotherapy clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ninety patients with long-term musculoskeletal conditions attending outpatient physiotherapy were recruited from seven physiotherapy clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physiotherapy including disease-specific modalities and a general individually tailored exercise programme. Patients were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  International Physical Activity Questionnaire short form (IPAQ-sf) and COOP WONCA functional assessment charts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two patients were excluded from the analysis because they did not complete the IPAQ-sf correctly or dropped out during the treatment period. There was a significant increase in the number of metabolic equivalent task (MET)-min/week for vigorous and moderate-intensity activities, walking and total physical activity. The number of exercise sessions per week increased from 1.8 [standard deviation (SD) 0.9] to 2.2 (SD 1.2) (P=0.001). The proportion of patients with a low level of physical activity decreased by 12%, and the proportion of the participants who did not/could not exercise decreased from 26% to 8%. The COOP WONCA charts showed significant improvements in the physical fitness, feelings, daily activities and social activities items.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant increase was found in the number of MET-min/week for all activity levels. Therefore, a general physical exercise programme initiated by a physiotherapist led to a positive change in level of physical activity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery and Clinical Neuroscience, Orthopaedic Department, Section of Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: a.t.tveter@medisin.uio.no.
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tveter
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Moseng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society, Medical Faculty, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1089, Blindern, NO-0318 Oslo, Norway; National Resource Center for Rehabilitation in Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmets Hospital, P.O. Box 23, Vinderen, NO-0319 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dagfinrud
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010809:Physical Fitness; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report; D016138:Walking
keywords: Exercise; IPAQ; Musculoskeletal diseases; Physical activity level; Physical therapists