Sport and Exercise Medicine holds key to GP Physical Activity Support

The Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine (FSEM) UK welcomes the recent report published in the British Journal of General Practice – GPs’ knowledge, use and confidence in national physical activity and health guidelines and tools: a questionnaire-based survey of general practice in England.

The FSEM (UK), which represents and sets standards for Sport and Exercise Medicine clinical practice in the UK, is taking action to provide GPs with physical activity learning and reliable, evidence-based information to prevent and manage lifestyle-related diseases via physical activity. The FSEM (UK) has been working with the Royal College of GPs on a Physical Activity and Lifestyle three year clinical priority. The aim of the project is to help GPs to manage their patients’ physical health and reduce the demand on primary care and the wider NHS. Dr Paul Jackson, President of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK, comments: “We welcome this research which highlights the need for further training to be available for GPs to improve their knowledge on the assessment of physical activity levels and how to give advice on increasing activity. This need for further knowledge about exercise medicine is required not only in general practice, but across all medical specialties.”

The FSEM (UK), which represents and sets standards for Sport and Exercise Medicine clinical practice in the UK, is taking action to provide GPs with physical activity learning and reliable, evidence-based information to prevent and manage lifestyle-related diseases via physical activity. The FSEM (UK) has been working with the Royal College of GPs on a Physical Activity and Lifestyle three year clinical priority. The aim of the project is to help GPs to manage their patients’ physical health and reduce the demand on primary care and the wider NHS.

Dr Paul Jackson, President of the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK, comments: “We welcome this research which highlights the need for further training to be available for GPs to improve their knowledge on the assessment of physical activity levels and how to give advice on increasing activity. This need for further knowledge about exercise medicine is required not only in general practice, but across all medical specialties.”