RESEARCH ROUND-UP
Plugging the research gap
One of the largest ever studies is now taking place into the effectiveness of physical activity and structured exercise
DR CHRIS BEEDIE, UKACTIVE RESEARCH INSTITUTE W
e all know that exercise and physical activity can be effective in the prevention and
management of disease, and rest assured that we have not established a Research Institute to go over this old ground. Rather we are developing, evaluating and validating methods to deliver physical activity programmes in both the prevention and management of disease. This process will help to solve what is
often called the ‘research gap’ between the academic community and frontline services. The best example of this gap is in the provision of exercise referral programmes. Pick up any academic journal and you will find evidence demonstrating how exercise or physical activity can reduce insulin dependence among type 2 diabetics, for example, or lower the risk of heart disease. However, pick up an academic journal for a review of exercise referral programmes
and you will quickly find statements such as “weak evidence base”. The Research Institute is attempting to fill this gap by delivering research within health and sports clubs, leisure centres, walking groups and outdoor bootcamps. In doing so, we are going to establish
areas of best practice for physical activity providers, impacting on education and training and creating a culture of data collection across the sector.
Mirroring the sector My role thus far has focused on two areas: the publication of the pilot study and the development of the 2012 study. In 2011, the Research Institute
partnered with Impulse Leisure to investigate the effectiveness of a structured exercise intervention – in comparison to both unstructured gym use and physical activity counselling – on
“THE PILOT HAD A 92 PER CENT RETENTION RATE
AND 99 PER CENT OF PARTICIPANTS ENJOYED THEIR EXPERIENCE – CRUCIAL TO ANY PROGRAMME”
4 Health Club Handbook 2013 4
modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and physiological performance markers. These categories were not selected
at random: they mirror the services provided by ukactive members across the UK. For instance, a consumer entering a leisure centre can receive a tailored exercise programme that outlines explicitly how they should be exercising, or they can simply access the facility and equipment and work out independently. Acknowledging the barriers to exercise for a completely sedentary person, a few forward-thinking operators are also offering physical activity counselling programmes, whereby a sedentary person is coached to take the first steps towards becoming more active. In the pilot, the Impulse Leisure-
operated centre recruited 97 untrained participants aged between 35 and 55 from their ‘inactive member’ lists, as well as non-members and people from other community groups. Those 97 people were split into three groups: structured exercise (40 people), unstructured exercise (39 people) and physical activity counselling (18 people). Each of the participants received a health check at baseline and at the end of the 12-week programme.
www.healthclubhandbook.com
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