Research Plus

Motivating exercise for chronic health conditions

Motivational interventions improve outcomes from prescribed physical activity programmes for people with a variety of health conditions, this systematic review of 14 papers reveals. Studies focused on musculoskeletal pain, low back pain, obesity, cardiac rehabilitation, fatigue in cancer patients and sedentary females. The motivational strategies included cognitive behavioural therapy, motivational interviewing, social cognitive theory, self-determination theory, transtheoretical model of behaviour change and social learning theory. Four studies were rated low quality, the others were of moderate to high quality. Meta-analyses showed that motivational interventions significantly: improved perceived self-efficacy (belief in ability to complete tasks/goals) – standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.71 (CI 0.55–0.87); and reduced activity limitation (inability to perform a physical task) – SMD = -0.37 (CI -0.65 to -0.08). There was no significant effect on attendance of exercise or physiotherapy sessions

Physiotherapy 2015; 101: 1–12. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2014.04.009.

Tags evidence based practice msd - musculoskeletal disorder physical activity

Occupational Health at Work April/May 2015 (vol. 11/6) pp48