Understanding Motivation Towards Exercise to Enhance Physical Activity on Prescription Adherence

Understanding Motivation Towards Exercise to Enhance Physical Activity on Prescription Adherence

The goal of this clinical trial is to explore effectiveness on physical activity, function and psychometrics in relation to an exercise intervention in physically inactive middle-aged men and women. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Is the exercise intervention effective in increasing physical activity, function and motivation towards exercise? Is there an intervention effect in physical activity, function and psychometrics at 6-, 12- and 24 months post baseline?
• Can barriers and facilitators towards increased physical activity be identified in the two groups of the study?

All participants will first receive standard care for physically inactive patients, i.e. Physical activity on Prescription (PaP), followed by allocation to an exercise intervention (EI) group or a control group. The EI group will be offered an additional exercise intervention for 16 weeks consisting of 1-2 training sessions per week of a combination of aerobic and resistance training at a private fitness centre. The control group will be asked to adhere to their PaP.

Researchers will assess physical activity, function and psychometrics in the two groups at 6-, 12- and 24 months to evaluate the intervention effect. Additionally, interviews with the participants in the control and EI groups will be performed in order to explore barriers and facilitators towards increased physical activity in formerly inactive patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Physically inactive persons as defined as not meeting the current recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. This criterion is self-assessed by potential participants.
• Age 40-60 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Physical disability that affects the ability to perform the exercise intervention.
• Heart failure or severe degenerative disease, e.g. malignant cancer, multiple sclerosis etc.
• Myocardial infarction or stroke during the last 12 months.
• Heart conditions including angina pectoris that is worsened with exercise.
• Neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, or rheumatic conditions that is worsened with exercise.
• Hypertension grade III, i.e. systolic blood pressure above 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure over 110 mmHg.