Exercise is Medicine Switzerland: contextual analysis for the implementation of physical activity counselling in physiotherapy

Exercise is medicine. The Swiss national strategy for the prevention of non-communicable diseases aims to promote exercise as medicine in the context of primary and secondary prevention. The Swiss Federal Office of Public Health has prepared the ground for the national implementation of Exercise is Medicine Switzerland through various mandates. These have highlighted the need for exercise prescriptions and physical activity counselling to support a physically active lifestyle. Physiotherapists are experts in physical activity across the lifespan. They could play a key role in the implementation of Exercise is Medicine Switzerland. Physical activity counselling can be integrated into standard physiotherapy treatment within the current legal framework.

The aim of this project is to conduct a context analysis in five physiotherapy practices in the canton Zurich, using qualitative research methods and implementation science. The context analysis provides the basis for the implementation and scaling of the new role of physical activity counsellor.