HOW TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY THROUGH INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING - A PROPOSAL FOR A PRACTICAL MODEL OF COUNSELING ON HEALTH-RELATED PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY

A model was developed to aid practical decision making in the counseli ng of health-related physical activity. The development was based on t he following concepts and theories: (1) A wide concept of physical act ivity; (2) A logical sequence of the practitioner's work steps; (3) Pe rsonal aspect of the client; (4) The client's stages of adoption; (5) Determinants of physical activity; (6) Selected educational concepts; (7) Selected strategies of planned maintenance. The model provides the practitioner the main work steps of counseling to follow and detailed lists of potential factors in each step to be taken into account for effective counseling on health-related physical activity. An illustrat ive case history is given on the model's application. The model is sho wn to incorporate central behavioral strategies shown useful in promot ing adherence to physical activity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.