Introduction: Physiotherapists are well positioned to use physical activity as a health promotion (HP) strategy. This review examines the degree to which physiotherapy literature includes physical activity as a component of HP in practice and education.
Methods: Databases PubMed, Science Direct, CINAHL, Amed and Pedro were searched using a combination of keywords. If title, abstract or keywords were relevant, we proceeded to do a complete review. Only peer reviewed English work covering original research was included. Discussion and opinion papers, reviews, epidemiological studies, case studies or work not specifically addressing integration of HP were excluded.
Results: The information from 29 source articles was synthesized under the headings of acceptability of the HP role to physiotherapists and physiotherapy students; integration of HP into physiotherapy practice; HP interventions in physiotherapy practice; and HP in physiotherapy education and training. The findings were heterogenous, thereby limiting this review study to a scoping review.
Conclusion: More interventional research is needed to develop efficacious strategies integrating physical activity as a HP strategy in physiotherapy practice. Contemporary physiotherapy entry-level education curricula need benchmark standards for HP training such as physical activity.