Early adherence to physician prescribed exercise by higher risk RCMP members : the effect of fitness and adherence counselling provided by a conditioning therapist

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dc.contributor.authorHudec, John Craigen_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-14T17:26:04Z
dc.date.available2024-08-14T17:26:04Z
dc.date.copyright1991en_US
dc.date.issued1991
dc.degree.departmentSchool of Physical Education
dc.degree.departmentSchool of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts M.A.en
dc.description.abstractA number of physically demanding occupations (ie. military, fire fighters and police) are now using specific performance tests to screen recruits and test for ongoing physical readiness. One such test is the PARE, currently being used by the RCMP. Testing has identified many members who are deemed medically at risk for participation in strenuous job related activity. These members are usually assigned to sedentary desk jobs and are faced with the psychological and professional concerns related to "failing" a performance test. There is no structured path of rehabilitation. Intervention is usually left to the member and his/her personal physician. The purpose of this research was to examine the effect of regular meetings with a fitness consultant on adherence to a progressive exercise program. Specifically the initial consultations were designed to determine health risk and fitness level. Time was spent developing an understanding of the principles of fitness programming, goal setting, and the benefits of regular exercise to health. The meetings reviewed practical adherence strategies. Using a single subject, changing criteria design, four subjects were monitored by self and spousal report during a baseline period of six weeks. The direction of activity during this period was left to the discretion of the subjects based on the advice of their personal physician. The intervention period began with a modified Balke graded exercise test to determine current fitness level and screen for abnormal responses to exercise. Anthropometric measures were taken following the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness. The results of fitness evaluation were utilized during counselling and for determination of fitness changes in each subject. Self and spousal report were continued during the intervention period with the addition of objective monitoring of exercise sessions by microprocessor. Finally a maintenance phase examined the independent exercise behavior of each subject following the intervention. Self reported adherence was measure continuously with the inclusion of a one week probe of spousal report and microprocessor recording. A final fitness evaluation was carried out to complete the data gathering. Three of four subjects increased their exercise levels from pre-research levels. Variable baseline measures did not allow testing of the hypothesis that counselling after physician prescription improved levels of exercise adherence. The combination of physician prescription and fitness consultant involvement did provide three subjects with increased early adherence and longer term maintenance of exercise. The three subjects showed positive changes in the measured fitness evaluation. Individual subject results provide limited support for intervention program effectiveness. Objective measurement of baseline behaviors would provide a clearer view of changes in fitness behavior. The research provides a model of sensitive intervention with individuals at a vulnerable point in their professional and personal lives.
dc.format.extent200 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/18239
dc.rightsAvailable to the World Wide Weben_US
dc.titleEarly adherence to physician prescribed exercise by higher risk RCMP members : the effect of fitness and adherence counselling provided by a conditioning therapisten_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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