How Do Physical Therapists and Athletic Trainers Maintain Their Physical Fitness? A Descriptive Survey Study.
Scott W Cheatham, Brian Sutton, Tony Ambler-Wright and 2 others
PMID 40182901WHAT IT FOUND
Most surveyed therapists and trainers met physical activity guidelines, averaging 14 hours weekly.
They relied on self-guided home workouts and wearables, rarely using formal performance tests. Work schedule and lack of time were the primary barriers to maintaining fitness.
Key findings
01A large portion of respondents reported participating in moderate or vigorous-intensity aerobic activity meeting or exceeding weekly guidelines.
02The most common exercise barriers reported were work schedule, lack of time, and family commitments.
03Most respondents did not use formal muscle or aerobic performance assessments to track their progress.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The survey relied on self-reported data, so respondents may have overestimated their physical activity levels. Only 2.91% of the recruited population completed the survey, and those who responded may have been more motivated to exercise than those who did not. The results cannot be generalized to all healthcare professionals or other disciplines. The survey was exploratory and descriptive; it does not establish cause and effect regarding fitness behaviors.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest related to this manuscript.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the high self-reported activity levels as objective fact. The data comes from a voluntary survey with a low response rate, meaning the results likely reflect the habits of the most health-motivated professionals, not the average therapist or trainer.