FIA UPDATE Plugging the research gap
The new academic lead for the FIA Research Institute, Dr Chris Beedie, explains the significance of the 2011 pilot study, and outlines plans to undertake one of the largest ever studies into the effectiveness of physical activity and structured exercise
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. T is process will help to solve what is
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oſt en called the ‘research gap’ between the academic community and frontline services. T e best example of this gap is in the provision of exercise referral programmes. Pick up any academic journal and you will fi nd 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
e all know that exercise and physical activity can be eff ective in the prevention and
of exercise referral programmes and you will quickly fi nd statements such as “weak evidence base”. T e Research Institute is attempting to fi ll 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. I am therefore delighted that the Research Institute is sponsored by leaders in these fi elds, such as MYZONE, Bodystat and Lifetime Health and Fitness.
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
Health Club Management is the FIA’s Public Affairs Media Partner
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investigate the eff ectiveness of a structured exercise intervention – in comparison to both unstructured use and physical activity counselling – on modifi able cardiovascular risk factors and physiological performance markers. T ese categories were not selected
at random: they mirror the services provided by FIA 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 off ering physical activity counselling programmes, whereby a sedentary person is coached to take the fi rst steps to 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. T ose 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.
Activity counselling involves coaching sedentary people to take their fi rst steps 26 Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital
Success across the board First and foremost the study was a success, as it had a 92 per cent retention rate – relatively unheard of in academic studies, where we normally expect an attrition rate of 30 per cent. Furthermore, 99 per cent of the participants enjoyed their experience, which is a crucial component of any exercise programme. Without these enjoyment levels and retention rates, the programme would
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