Promotion of exercise in primary care

So after 7-13 minutes with a practice nurse and 5 phone calls of 15
minutes
each those that come for another 30 minute appointment with the nurse
tell
her they are exercising more but all firm data such as BP, weight, waist
circumference, lipid measurements and current medication are unchanged.
People are generally keen to please and it would seem ungrateful to report
to
the nurse little has changed

I don't yet share the conclusion that "Lawton and colleagues’ study
shows
that exercise promotion through general practice can change behaviour if
it
is embedded in routine care, based on continuing contact and dialogue, and

tailored to individual needs"

I do feel increasing exercise is very important for all age groups,
particularly
the elderly but in the absence of stronger evidence cannot so far back
adding
this huge burden to our practice clinic system.

I agree we should encourage activity but when one of my elderly
patients
requested if any light exercise group such as Tai Chi existed locally for
elderly patients none of our local myriad of overlapping, opaquely titled
acute
intervention or chronic rehabilitation services seemed sure and I remain
unaware of any except for the local "Water Mobility Association" set up
and
run on non profit making basis by an enthusiastic local swimmer and diver
over 20 years ago which has helped many and I hope survives his recent
death in his late 80s.

Bob Bunney GP principal

Competing interests:
None declared