Considering the Role of Physical Therapists Within the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Individuals With Eating Disorders: An International Survey of Expert Clinicians.
OBJECTIVE
Recent research has demonstrated that physical therapy may benefit the physical and mental health of people with eating disorders (EDs). Because this is a new and developing field, this study aimed to investigate the experience, practices and knowledge of international physical therapy experts to inform clinical practice, education and research.


METHODS
An international cross-sectional survey design was undertaken with experienced physical therapists within the field of EDs. Physical therapist responses were analysed with descriptive statistics and thematic analysis as appropriate.


RESULTS
Twenty-eight international physical therapists participated. On average, participants had 6.9 years (95% confidence interval: 3.1-10.7, n = 27) of clinical experience working in ED settings and devoted approximately 39.3% (95% confidence interval: 23.8-54.8, n = 27) of their time to treating individuals with EDs. Participants reported that physical therapy interventions have a diverse range of benefits on the physical, mental and disease-specific factors (e.g. binges) in people with EDs. The key role of physical therapists includes improving body awareness, especially during physical activity combined with psycho-education about healthy doses of physical activity. Physical therapists were able to identify a range of barriers and facilitators to physical activity in people with EDs.


CONCLUSIONS
This paper provides a first step towards understanding the role and value of physical therapists working with individuals with EDs. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Andy
A
Soundy
School of Health and Social Care, University of Greenwich, London, SE9 2UG, UK.
Brendon
B
Stubbs
University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, B-3070, Kortenberg, Belgium.|Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, B-3070, Kortenberg, Belgium.|Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Michel
M
Probst
Department of Health Sciences, Division of Physiotherapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Amanda Lundvik
AL
Gyllensten
Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Radiography, Bergen University College, Bergen, Norway.
Liv Helvik
LH
Skjaerven
University Carlos III of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.|Spanish Association of Physiotherapists in Mental Health, Madrid, Spain.
Daniel
D
Catalan-Matamoros
University Psychiatric Centre, KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, B-3070, Kortenberg, Belgium.|Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuvensesteenweg 517, B-3070, Kortenberg, Belgium.|Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, B-3001, Leuven, Belgium.
Davy
D
Vancampfort
D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D059825:Physical Therapists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012380:Role; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
exercise; mental health; physiotherapy; rehabilitation services