The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Vision Statement asserted that the ultimate goal of the profession is to effect positive change in society by educating the public of the relationship between being active and improved quality of living (American Physical Therapy Association [APTA], 2013). It is such a magnanimous and meaningful role that places the physical therapy in a broader model, at the very core of the society. Movement is the most fundamental of human experience. It is through movement that humans can perform their day to day activities hence promoting a person’s well-being. Along this line, physical therapists are carving a niche in the society based on their role in prevention and wellness. There are contemporary
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The discussion on the different models of behavioral change come handy as physical therapists try to enhance a person’s adoption and maintenance in an exercise regimen. The most common barrier to exercise as asserted by Pescatello & American College of Sports Medicine (2014) is the lack of time. As a therapist, a strategy that is useful here is the modification of the frequency/time, intensity, type (FITT) of the exercise regimen. Allowing a person to choose his frequency may, in fact, bolster his participation. Another barrier to exercise that was identified was the lack of motivation (Netz, Zeev, Arnon, & Tenenbaum, 2008). It would be prudent to apply the Transtheoretical Model as a framework to facilitate the patient’s low self-efficacy to address the lack of motivation (Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992). It is important to acknowledge that the patient is in the early stage of change thus requiring encouragement and education on the pros of participating in an exercise program. It will be a futile endeavor if we force the patient to partake in high-intensity exercises and not to address his behavior and lack of motivation. Other approaches that can be utilized to have a positive effect on person’s behavior to exercise is to encourage patients to keep an activity log wherefore he becomes conscious of his improvement or lack thereof when he records his performance. Furthermore, giving frequent encouragements and compliments can enhance one’s motivation to participate in the exercise program. A person with a higher sense of efficacy will be able to adhere more to the regimen (Blissmer & McAuley,
The discussion on the different models of behavioral change come handy as physical therapists try to enhance a person’s adoption and maintenance in an exercise regimen. The most common barrier to exercise as asserted by Pescatello & American College of Sports Medicine (2014) is the lack of time. As a therapist, a strategy that is useful here is the modification of the frequency/time, intensity, type (FITT) of the exercise regimen. Allowing a person to choose his frequency may, in fact, bolster his participation. Another barrier to exercise that was identified was the lack of motivation (Netz, Zeev, Arnon, & Tenenbaum, 2008). It would be prudent to apply the Transtheoretical Model as a framework to facilitate the patient’s low self-efficacy to address the lack of motivation (Prochaska, DiClemente, & Norcross, 1992). It is important to acknowledge that the patient is in the early stage of change thus requiring encouragement and education on the pros of participating in an exercise program. It will be a futile endeavor if we force the patient to partake in high-intensity exercises and not to address his behavior and lack of motivation. Other approaches that can be utilized to have a positive effect on person’s behavior to exercise is to encourage patients to keep an activity log wherefore he becomes conscious of his improvement or lack thereof when he records his performance. Furthermore, giving frequent encouragements and compliments can enhance one’s motivation to participate in the exercise program. A person with a higher sense of efficacy will be able to adhere more to the regimen (Blissmer & McAuley,