Physically inactive behaviors are widespread, especially among people with non-communicable diseases. A survey of exercise therapy in Germany (BewegTheReha project) has highlighted the need to take action to improve conditions for the realization of exercise-promoting exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation.

The PRO-BT project aims at developing practical recommendations for the optimization of exercise therapy in medical rehabilitation. In terms of research methodology, the focus is on a participatory, transdisciplinary research and development approach that incorporates the perspective of exercise therapists and other actors in the rehabilitation team from the outset of the process.

The developed practical recommendations are intended to provide the rehabilitation team and, in particular, the exercise therapists with decision-making aids during the planning, implementation and evaluation of exercise therapy. The consented practice recommendations should be accessible for all actors in the field of medical rehabilitation. The dissemination and implementation of the practice recommendations should be provided with optimal information and support offers from the rehabilitation research. For this purpose, an additional needs analysis for the support of the dissemination and use of the practice recommendations will be realized.

Project Duration: 01.10.2022 – 31.09.2024
Project Lead Tübingen: Prof. Dr. Gorden Sudeck
Cooperation Partner: Prof. Dr. Klaus Pfeifer, Dr. Wolfgang Geidl (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg)
Funding Institution: Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund
Contributing/Supporting Organizations: AG Bewegungstherapie der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Rehabilitationswissenschaften e.V. (DGRW); Deutscher Verband für Gesundheitssport und Sporttherapie e.V. (DVGS); Zentrum für Patientenschulung e.V. (ZEPG); Institut für Lerninnovation, Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Aim and Objective:
Participatory development of evidence-based and consensus practice recommendations for promoting exercise therapy that promotes physical activity and needs assessment for an online portal for their dissemination.

Research Design and Methods:
Systematic literature searches; Participatory development and consensus including consultation process; Systematic participatory conceptualization, online questionnaire survey.

Use:
The development of evidence-based, consensus-based practice recommendations addresses, for the first time, the lack of available landmarks for a systematic quality development for exercise therapy practice. To determine the initial conditions for a more effective dissemination and implementation of practice recommendations, a participatory development and implementation of a needs assessment for digital support options (online portal) will take place.