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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
"Guidelines… yeah, they just haven't felt relevant to me." A qualitative exploration of chiropractors' perspectives on physical activity promotion
Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
2025
PMID: 40534412
Abstract
Background
Globally, almost one-third of adults are considered physically inactive. Chiropractors knownly promote physical activity (PA) within their musculoskeletal management plans, despite their limited PA and sedentary behavior (SB) guideline knowledge.
Objective
To deepen our understanding of chiropractors’ perspectives, including factors that may influence PA promotion. Specifically our objectives are to (1) explore chiropractors’ knowledge of PA guidelines, (2) examine chiropractors’ practices in PA assessment and advice, and (3) identify barriers, enablers, and factors influencing PA promotion in chiropractic.
Methods
Twenty registered Australian chiropractors were interviewed to understand their perspectives on promoting PA in practice. We used a qualitative descriptive approach with inductive content analysis to identify patterns and themes.
Results
Four themes captured chiropractors’ perspectives regarding PA: (1) chiropractors striving to take a person-centered approach to PA promotion, (2) chiropractors had limited knowledge of the PA/SB guidelines, (3) chiropractors relied on their personal intuitions and experience to try and be PA role models for their patients, and (4) chiropractors identified important enablers including longer appointment time and patient motivation as well as barriers such as limited knowledge, skill and time. Chiropractors identified interest and motivation as patient barriers.
Conclusion
Chiropractors have limited PA/SB guideline knowledge but nevertheless report being confident, safe and person-centered with respect to PA promotion, often relying on their own experiences to be PA role models for their patients. Supporting behavior change among chiropractors, while addressing time constraints and patient motivation are important considerations.
Details
- Title
- "Guidelines… yeah, they just haven't felt relevant to me." A qualitative exploration of chiropractors' perspectives on physical activity promotion
- Authors/Creators
- Matthew Fernandez - Central Queensland UniversityKathryn Di - Central Queensland UniversityMarina Pinheiro - Institute for Musculoskeletal HealthKatie de Luca - Central Queensland UniversityJeffrey Hebert - University of New BrunswickPeter Stilwell - University of Southern Denmark
- Publication Details
- Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Number of pages
- 12
- Identifiers
- 991005788073107891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2025
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Allied Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Source: InCites
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.44 Nutrition & Dietetics
- 1.44.103 Physical Activity
- Web Of Science research areas
- Orthopedics
- Rehabilitation
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine