Preventive activities in general practice 7th edition

Introduction and user guide

Preventive activities before pregnancy

Genetic counselling and testing

Preventive activities in children and young people

Preventive activities in middle age

Preventive activities in older age

Communicable diseases

Prevention of chronic disease

Prevention of vascular and metabolic disease

Early detection of cancers

Psychosocial

Screening tests of unproven benefit

Appendices

Disclaimer

Physical activity

Physical activity age range table
Age	0 - 9	10 - 14	15 - 19	20 - 24	25 - 29	30 - 34	35 - 39	40 - 44	45 - 49	50 - 54	55 - 59	60 - 64	65 - 69	70 - 79	>80
	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X	X

Physical activity age range table

Age

0 - 9

10 - 14

15 - 19

20 - 24

25 - 29

30 - 34

35 - 39

40 - 44

45 - 49

50 - 54

55 - 59

60 - 64

65 - 69

70 - 79

>80

All adults should be advised to participate in 30 minutes of moderate activity on most, preferably all days of the week (at least 2.5 hours per week) (A). While moderate physical activity is recommended for health benefit, more vigorous exercise may confer additional cardiovascular health and cancer prevention benefits if carried out for a minimum of 30 minutes, 3–4 times a week. The amount of physical activity can be accumulated in 10 minute bouts. The amount of activity for weight loss is greater, it is recommended that at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity (eg. brisk walking) every day may be required in order to achieve measurable weight loss over a number of months.²⁹⁴

Physical activity is independent of weight as a risk factor.

Physical activity: Risk
Who is at higher risk?	What should be done?	How often?	Level of evidence and references
Average risk Those already performing moderate levels of activity for 30 minutes daily at least 5 days per week	Question regarding current level of activity	Every 2 years	III B 295
Increased risk Those not performing moderate levels of activity for 30 minutes per day at least 5 days of the week Those at higher risk include: teenage girls, Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders, those from low SES and non-English speaking backgrounds Those with a chronic condition or other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (see Chapter 8 Prevention of vascular and metabolic disease) Those at high risk of CVD or diabetes (including impaired glucose tolerance)	Question regarding current level of activity and readiness to be more active Provide brief advice and written physical activity materials Refer to an exercise or physical activity program. Programs with additional behaviour change support may be more beneficial	Every visit	IV C 296

Physical activity: Risk

Who is at higher risk?

What should be done?

How often?

Level of evidence and references

Average risk

Those already performing moderate levels of activity for 30 minutes daily at least 5 days per week

Question regarding current level of activity

Every 2 years

III B 295

Increased risk

Those not performing moderate levels of activity for 30 minutes per day at least 5 days of the week
Those at higher risk include: teenage girls, Aboriginal people or Torres Strait Islanders, those from low SES and non-English speaking backgrounds
Those with a chronic condition or other cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (see Chapter 8 Prevention of vascular and metabolic disease)
Those at high risk of CVD or diabetes (including impaired glucose tolerance)

Question regarding current level of activity and readiness to be more active

Provide brief advice and written physical activity materials

Refer to an exercise or physical activity program. Programs with additional behaviour change support may be more beneficial

Every visit

IV C 296

Physical activity: Intervention
Intervention	Technique	References
Determine level of physical activity	Question regarding current level of activity and readiness to be more active (eg. Lifescript assessment tool) Ask: ‘How many times a week do you engage in 30 minutes (all together or in shorter amounts) of brisk walking or moderate physical activity that increases your heart rate or makes you breathe harder than normal? Eg. digging in the garden, dancing, golf, tennis.’ And ‘How many times a week do you engage in 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity that makes you sweat or puff and pant? Eg. jogging or running, tennis, swimming, bike riding, aerobics or fitness exercises’ See SNAP guidelines	198
Moderate intensity physical activity	Physical activity associated with a moderate, noticeable increase in the depth and rate of breathing while still being able to whistle or talk comfortably	297
Brief interventions to increase levels of physical activity	Interventions in general practice shown to have short term benefit in changing behaviour related to physical activity include: patient screening to identify current level of activity and readiness to be more active provision of brief advice or counselling on exercise supporting written materials, and/or written prescription for exercise (eg. Physical Activity Lifescript) See SNAP guidelines	198
Physical program	Structured program over a number sessions of physical activity education and exercise. May be delivered as individual or group program

Physical activity: Intervention

Intervention

Technique

References

Determine level of physical activity

Question regarding current level of activity and readiness to be more active (eg. Lifescript assessment tool)

Ask: ‘How many times a week do you engage in 30 minutes (all together or in shorter amounts) of brisk walking or moderate physical activity that increases your heart rate or makes you breathe harder than normal? Eg. digging in the garden, dancing, golf, tennis.’
And ‘How many times a week do you engage in 20 minutes of vigorous physical activity that makes you sweat or puff and pant? Eg. jogging or running, tennis, swimming, bike riding, aerobics or fitness exercises’

See SNAP guidelines

198

Moderate intensity physical activity

Physical activity associated with a moderate, noticeable increase in the depth and rate of breathing while still being able to whistle or talk comfortably

297

Brief interventions to increase levels of physical activity

Interventions in general practice shown to have short term benefit in changing behaviour related to physical activity include:

patient screening to identify current level of activity and readiness to be more active
provision of brief advice or counselling on exercise
supporting written materials, and/or
written prescription for exercise (eg. Physical Activity Lifescript)

See SNAP guidelines

198

Physical program

Structured program over a number sessions of physical activity education and exercise. May be delivered as individual or group program

Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice 7th edition

Full index

Introduction and user guide

Preventive activities before pregnancy

Genetic counselling and testing

Preventive activities in children and young people

Preventive activities in middle age

Preventive activities in older age

Communicable diseases

Prevention of chronic disease

Prevention of vascular and metabolic disease

Early detection of cancers

Psychosocial

Oral hygiene

Glaucoma

Urinary incontinence

Osteoporosis

Screening tests of unproven benefit

References

Appendices

Glossary

Acronyms

Acknowledgements

Disclaimer

Physical activity