Level of Physical activity among Rehabilitation Professionals in Bangladesh: Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the Level of Physical activity among Rehabilitation Professionals in Bangladesh: Cross Sectional Study. Objective: The objective of this study was to find out socio-demographic information, health-related information, and Physical Activity Level among Rehabilitation Professionals in Bangladesh. Methodology: Cross-sectional design to determine the Physical Activity Level among Rehabilitation Professionals in Bangladesh. The sample was collected through a cluster sampling procedure, resulting in a total of 231 participants. Data was gathered from various regions of Bangladesh using a questionnaire administered via face-to-face interviews and online surveys. The data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2019 and SPSS version 22 software, with the chi-square test employed for statistical analysis. Results: The study included 231 participants, with a standard deviation of 32.30 ± 5.84.The majority were aged 25-30 years (48.5%) and there were more males (64.9%) than females (35.1%).Regarding BMI, 49.4% were within a healthy weight range, 42.9% were overweight, 6.9% were obese, and 0.9% were underweight. Most participants were physiotherapists (82.3%), primarily from institutions like BHPI (35.9%).Educationally, 47.6% were graduates and 51.5% postgraduates. Most were married (77.9%) and predominantly Muslim (84.0%).Health-wise, 87.9% did not smoke, 81.4% rated their health as good, and 67.1% reported no known diseases, with musculoskeletal issues (15.6%) being the most common condition among the rest. In terms of physical activity, 51.5% engaged in vigorous job-related activities, 65.8% in moderate activities, and 81.8% walked for their jobs. Motor vehicle usage was high (83.5%), while bicycling was low (5.2%), but walking was common (91.3%).For home-related activities, 26.8% engaged in vigorous yard work, and 58% in moderate activities. Leisure activities included walking (46.3%), vigorous (15.2%), and moderate activities (8.2%).Conclusion: Overall, participants led a healthy lifestyle with high physical activity levels and a low incidence of serious health conditions. This study found a standard prevalence of physical activity among rehabilitation professionals. The IPAQ questionnaire full version was used, with some modifications made based on a pilot study. To generate adequate evidence to support decision-making processes at the national level, more studies on the level of physical activity among rehabilitation professionals are recommended. Appropriate, adequate, and timely information is needed to build awareness among them. Keywords: Physical activity, Rehabilitation professionals, Physical activity level, IPAQ