The role of healthcare professionals (April 2025)
Healthcare professionals are known to play a role in positively impacting disabled people’s health and wellbeing through promoting physical activity. Activity Alliance commissioned Better Decisions Together to explore the role of healthcare professionals in supporting disabled people to be more physically active.
The report, based on findings from in-depth focus groups with disabled people, found that NHS and healthcare professionals are trusted messengers. They are seen to be a source of information and guidance on being physically active.
Participants interviewed were supported by various healthcare professionals, including GPs, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social prescribers.
Some common themes emerged. Five key features of successful support included:
- Personalised support - understanding individual needs while conveying an informed clinical understanding of their impairment or condition.
- Trusted relationships - built on common ground, with professional who demonstrated condition-specific clinical knowledge.
- A multi-disciplinary approach which reinforced positive messaging about physical activity.
- Gradual, realistic progression with a personalised plan.
- Connecting into the community - most interactions took place within local primary care settings, acting as gateways to broader community activities.
Timing was important for the delivery of a successful intervention. People needed to be at a point of being open to taking action to improve or protect their physical and mental wellbeing. This was sometimes after they had had time to process a changed situation, or when they felt that their physical or mental health could be about to decline.
Download research report documents here:
Executive summary - Healthcare Professionals supporting disabled people into physical activity
The report also highlights areas of good practice including six examples from across the UK. These range from Middlesbrough Powerchair Football Club to Health Improvement Practitioners in the community stroke team in Greater Manchester.
View supporting case studies:
- Access to exercise and wellbeing
- Health Improvement Practitioner
- Move to Include
- Parkinsons Disease Exercise Group
- Powerchair Football
- Super Mash Up
Alongside the case studies and research report guidance for healthcare professionals and healthcare systems have been created. Read two resources for healthcare professionals and healthcare systems on how they can support disabled people to be physically active.
Health report summary accessible formats:
Health report summary in British Sign Language:
Watch BSL video about Activity Alliance health research report
Report published in April 2025. Please contact our research team for more information about this report. Email the research team or call 0808 175 6991.
