Empowering Family Physicians: Practical Approaches to Prescribing Physical Activity in Disadvantaged Groups
Jorge LEMA BARTOLOMÉ, Juan Antonio LÓPEZ RODRIGUEZ and Alba RIESGO GARCIA
Disadvantaged populations carry a high burden of chronic disease, making physical activity a vital therapeutic intervention in primary care. Yet many family physicians struggle to integrate activity counseling into routine practice due to limited time, uncertainty about safe exercise prescriptions, socioeconomic barriers faced by patients, and challenges in motivating sustainable behavior change. This workshop is designed to equip family physicians with the confidence, practical skills, and evidence-based tools needed to prescribe physical activity effectively for patients living with chronic illness and social disadvantage. Through real-world case discussions, hands-on demonstrations, participants will explore how to overcome common barriers and embed movement into individualized care plans.By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: ● Apply evidence-based physical activity guidelines in diverse clinical settings. ● Safely prescribe exercise for patients with multimorbidity and functional limitations. ● Demonstrate simple home- and clinic-based exercises. ● Use motivational and communication techniques to support behavior change in disadvantaged patients.Case 1: Obesity & Osteoarthritis ● Impact of joint pain, mobility limitations, and socioeconomic constraints ● Safe prescription of low-impact aerobic and strengthening exercises ● Practical demonstration of chair-based movements and resistance-band exercises Case 2: Heart Failure & COPD (Group 2) ● Barriers related to breathlessness, fatigue ● Risk stratification and tailoring exercise intensity ● Demonstration of home-based breathing, endurance, and pacing routines Case 3 : Diabetes & Blindness ● Ensuring safe environments and reducing fall risk ● Personalized activity plans focused on balance, mobility, and functional strength ● Demonstration of home-based exercises Workshop Schedule (60 minutes) ● Presentation: 20 minutes ● Small Group Discussions: 20 minutes ● Debrief & Key Takeaways: 10 minutes● Increased confidence in using the 5A model for physical activity counseling ● Ability to design safe and disease-specific exercise prescriptions ● Enhanced collaboration with community resources and local activity programs ● Adoption of practical, immediately applicable toolsThis workshop provides family physicians with a practical, evidence-informed pathway to incorporating physical activity into the care of disadvantaged patients. Participants will prepare to use physical activity as a powerful, accessible prescription for better health by combining guideline-based knowledge with hands-on strategies.
