2023 Annual Report Physical activity / Exercise as medicine

Activities

Over the past 12 months our SIG membership has continued to grow. We currently have 73 members and 232 (up from 216 last year) followers on twitter (@SAPCexerciseSIG). I use our twitter handle to keep in regular contact with the members, promote the SIG and share relevant research and initiatives. I also keep in contact with the SIG members via email to update them of plans and events associated with the SIG.

We held our last face to face SIG meeting at the SAPC AGM in July 2022 that was attended by 14 individuals who signed up to be members. At the meeting I gave a presentation titled ‘Non-healthcare professional-led exercise for osteoarthritis: A systematic review’. I also invited Prof John Buckley to present his work on creating an official registered profession of Clinical Exercise Physiologists. This presentation prompted an interesting and informative discussion.  We also had discussion around future potential SIG activities and collaboration activities.
 

Unfortunately I was unable to attend the SAPC AGM last year so we were unable to host a SIG meeting there.

Future plans

I aim to hold the next meeting for the SIG at the next SAPC AGM in 2024 and are currently looking at guest speakers (2 volunteers to date). We also aim to hold another SIG meeting towards the Autumn.

Evidence of impact of the SIG

Overall, feedback of the meetings held to date have been very positive. We hope that there will be long-term impact of the Physical Activity as Medicine SIG, through promoting member collaboration and for improving communication regarding physical activity within primary care.

In my role as Chair of this SIG I have been approached by members of the SIG to work on SPCR grant applications, support NIHR Felllowship applications and collaborate on a NIHR HTA bid. I have also been working with the RCGP Physical activity team on a couple of ongoing projects.

How affiliation with SAPC has helped the SIG

Affiliation with SAPC has helped us to identify and recruit members to the SIG who have a particular interest in the role of exercise / physical activity in primary care. I think being affiliated with SAPC provides further credentials to our Twitter account.