Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit

Original Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit updated and 10 new resources added

Looking for ways to support your clients to be more physically active? Our Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit may be just what you are looking for!

Watch our 1-minute video on how the Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit can help you!

Using the Resources for Counselling

The toolkit includes handouts for practitioners to use when counselling clients on starting and maintaining a physically active lifestyle. The 20 handouts focus on different physical activity topics. They are available in six languages, and a set was tailored for Northern populations and French Northern populations in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Practitioners: here are a few tips to keep in mind when using the toolkit:

Each resource in the toolkit has been designed to help facilitate the physical activity counselling process.
Practitioners should use these resources in conjunction with other approaches and techniques used for physical activity counselling.
These resources are not designed for clients to use on their own. Rather, a practitioner should meet with a client to review and discuss the content of each resource being used.

English toolkit

The Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit contains the following topics:

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active (3 pages)
B. Making a physical activity plan (4 pages)
C. Setting goals for physical activity (6 pages)
D. What stops you from being physically active? (3 pages)
E. Benefits of physical activity (4 pages)
F. Physical activity and your blood pressure (9 pages)
G. High blood pressure: how to stay safe when active (2 pages)
H. Physical activity and Type 2 diabetes (8 pages)
I. Diabetes: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
J. Healthy weight and physical activity (10 pages)

K. Physical activity and anxiety (9 pages)
L. Anxiety: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
M. Physical activity and chronic heart failure (9 pages)
N. Chronic heart failure: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
O. Physical activity and stroke (9 pages)
P. Stroke: how to stay safe when active (5 pages)
Q. Physical activity and Parkinson’s Disease (9 pages)
R. Parkinson’s Disease: how to stay safe when active (3 pages)
S. Physical activity and dementia (9 pages)
T. Dementia: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)

Download the complete English toolkit (118 pages).

The 2011 Toolkit in Other Languages

The 2011 Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit in other languages contains the first 10 topics. The NEW 2020 toolkit will be available in other languages soon.

French toolkit

Faire le premier pas : décider de faire de l’activité physique Download the complete French toolkit (38 pages).

The new 2020 Toolkit will be available soon.

Chinese toolkit

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active | 迈出第一步：做出加强健康运动的决定 (3 pages)
B. Making a physical activity plan (4 pages)
C. Setting goals for physical activity (6 pages)
D. What stops you from being physically active? (3 pages)
E. Benefits of physical activity (3 pages)
F. Physical activity and your blood pressure (4 pages)
G. High blood pressure: how to stay safe when active (2 pages)
H. Physical activity and Type 2 diabetes (4 pages)
I. Diabetes: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
J. Healthy weight and physical activity (5 pages)

迈出第一步：做出加强健康运动的决定 Download the complete Chinese toolkit (39 pages).

The new 2020 Toolkit will be available soon.

Koren toolkit

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active | 첫걸음:‘신체적으로 보다 활동적인 삶’ 의 결정 (3 pages)
B. Making a physical activity plan (4 pages)
C. Setting goals for physical activity (6 pages)
D. What stops you from being physically active? (3 pages)
E. Benefits of physical activity (3 pages)
F. Physical activity and your blood pressure (4 pages)
G. High blood pressure: how to stay safe when active (2 pages)
H. Physical activity and Type 2 diabetes (4 pages)
I. Diabetes: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
J. Healthy weight and physical activity (5 pages)

첫걸음:‘신체적으로 보다 활동적인 삶’ 의 결정 Download the complete Korean toolkit (39 pages).

The new 2020 Toolkit will be available soon.

Punjabi toolkit

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active (3 pages)
B. Making a physical activity plan (4 pages)
C. Setting goals for physical activity (6 pages)
D. What stops you from being physically active? (3 pages)
E. Benefits of physical activity (3 pages)
F. Physical activity and your blood pressure (4 pages)
G. High blood pressure: how to stay safe when active (2 pages)
H. Physical activity and Type 2 diabetes (4 pages)
I. Diabetes: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
J. Healthy weight and physical activity (5 pages)

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active Download the complete Punjabi toolkit (39 pages).

The new 2020 Toolkit will be available soon.

Spanish toolkit

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active | El primer paso: decidir hacer actividad física (3 pages)
B. Making a physical activity plan (4 pages)
C. Setting goals for physical activity (6 pages)
D. What stops you from being physically active? (3 pages)
E. Benefits of physical activity (3 pages)
F. Physical activity and your blood pressure (4 pages)
G. High blood pressure: how to stay safe when active (2 pages)
H. Physical activity and Type 2 diabetes (4 pages)
I. Diabetes: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
J. Healthy weight and physical activity (5 pages)

El primer paso: decidir hacer actividad física Download the complete Spanish toolkit (39 pages).

The new 2020 Toolkit will be available soon.

Northern Populations toolkit

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active (3 pages)
B. Making a physical activity plan (4 pages)
C. Setting goals for physical activity (6 pages)
D. What stops you from being physically active? (3 pages)
E. Benefits of physical activity (3 pages)
F. Physical activity and your blood pressure (4 pages)
G. High blood pressure: how to stay safe when active (2 pages)
H. Physical activity and Type 2 diabetes (4 pages)
I. Diabetes: how to stay safe when active (4 pages)
J. Healthy weight and physical activity (5 pages)

>A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active Download the complete Northern Populations toolkit (38 pages).

The new 2020 Toolkit will be available soon.

French Northern Populations toolkit

Faire le premier pas : décider de faire de l’activité physique Download the complete French Northern Populations toolkit (38 pages).

The new 2020 Toolkit will be available soon.

About the Project

The resources that have been developed for the Physical Activity Counselling Toolkit are written in plain language and are intended to widen the choice of resources available to practitioners. We hope that practitioners will find some or all of the resources to be of practical, day-to-day assistance when working with clients.

Identifying the Need

Before this project began, the Centre had been approached by and spoke with a wide range of practitioners (e.g., exercise physiologists and others) over a significant period of time. Collectively, the practitioners clearly identified an increasing need for appropriate resources or tools that would help them with physical activity counselling, especially in healthcare settings.

Some examples of the key problems that practitioners encountered include:

many available resources are not evidence- or behaviour-based;
many available resources are not suitable for different audiences (e.g., for people with chronic conditions) or do not have appropriate content or messaging;
many (or most) resources are not written in plain language (for easier readability by the public, and by people with low literacy or whose first language is not English); and
most resources are not written in other languages.

The lack of appropriate (or quality) resources is a problem shared by many practitioners who play a direct role in promoting physical activity. Although practitioners do have access to quality resources such as the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, such resources may not be the most appropriate tool for different clients.

Developing the Resources

Each resource in the toolkit:

reflects the current literature and research;
has a focus towards behaviour change (not just an educational focus);
is written in plain language;
is formatted to ensure high standards of readability are met; and
meets the needs of practitioners working with clients who have a chronic condition(s) or are at risk of developing a chronic condition(s).

During the development process, each resource was evaluated to improve the readability and suitability for the general public. In addition, the resources were field-tested and evaluated by practitioners and their clients, throughout the province.

Each resource has been reviewed and endorsed by the Alberta Provincial Fitness Unit.

Project Team

The Centre for Active Living led the development of resources included in the toolkit. An advisory committee of Alberta-based practitioners provided guidance, helpful inputs and expertise.

Centre staff

Angela Torry, Project Coordinator and Content Developer
Don Buchanan, Editor
Betty Lee, Graphic Design

Advisory Committee members

Marni Armstrong - Exercise Physiologist, PhD candidate, University of Calgary
Nancy Becker Hallford - Health Literacy Consultant, Chronic Disease Management, Alberta Health Services
Taniya Birbeck - Exercise Specialist, Chronic Disease Management, Alberta Health Services
Steven Cheetham - Exercise Specialist, Edmonton North Primary Care Network
Judith Down - Director, Centre for Active Living
Katherine MacKeigan - Director, Provincial Fitness Unit of Alberta
Janice Patterson - Active Living Specialist, Health Promotion, Disease & Injury Prevention, Population & Public Health, Alberta Health Services
Dr. Ron Sigal – Associate Professor, Departments of Medicine, Cardiac Sciences and Community Health Sciences, Faculties of Medicine and Kinesiology, University of Calgary
Dr. Lorian Taylor - Dietitian, PhD (health literacy expert)
Lisa Workman - Kinesiologist/Exercise Specialist, Edmonton Oliver Primary Care Network

Acknowledgements

The Centre for Active Living thanks the advisory committee members for their hard work, dedication and involvement in this project. As well, thanks to the practitioners and their clients who participated in evaluating the resources. Thanks also to the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation and the Government of Alberta for funding of this project.

References and Useful Links

For each Toolkit resource, we have provided references and useful links.
. . .

Behaviour Change resources:

A. Taking the first step: deciding to be physically active

This resource is partly based on the following helpful reference:

Miller, W.R. & Rollnick, S. (2002). Motivational Interviewing: Preparing People for Change, 2nd edition. New York, NY: Guilford Press

Other references and useful links:

Motivational Interviewing
Rollnick, S., Butler, C.C., Kinnersley, P., Gregory, J. & Mash, B. (2010). Motivational Interviewing. Behavioral Medicine Journal, 340, c1900. doi: 10.1136/bmj.c1900

B. Making a physical activity plan

This resource may work well with Setting goals for physical activity.

Other references and useful links:

Pychyl, T.A. (2010). Don’t Delay: Understanding procrastination and how to achieve our goals. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay/201001/implementation-intentions-facilitate-action-control.
Connor, M. & Norman, P. (Eds.) (2005.) Predicting Health Behaviour, Chapter Seven. 2nd edition. Berkshire: Oxford University Press.

C. Setting goals for physical activity

This resource uses the popular and commonly-used “SMART” goal setting principles. This resource may work well with Making a physical activity plan.

D. What stops you from being physically active?

Useful link:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Overcoming Barriers to Physical Activity

E. Benefits of physical activity

Please note: This resource was written for those who are at risk or currently have a chronic disease.

. . .

Chronic Conditions resources:

F. Physical activity and your blood pressure; G. High blood pressure: how to stay active when active

References and useful links:

Pescatello, L.S., Franklin, B. A., Fagard, R.M.D., Farquhar, W.B., Kelley, G.A., & Ray, C. A. (2004). American College of Sports Medicine Position Stand: Exercise and hypertension. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 36, 533-553. Retrieved from http://journals.lww.com/ acsm-msse/Fulltext/2004/03000/ Exercise_and_Hypertension.25.aspx
Warburton, D.E.R., Katzmarzyk, P.T., Rhodes, R.E., & Shephard, R.J. (2007). Evidence-informed physical activity guidelines for Canadian adults. Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism, 32 (suppl.2E), S16-S68. doi:10.1139/H07-123
Leon, A.S., Franklin, B.A., Costa, F., Balady, G.J., Berra, K.A., … Lauer, M.S. (2005). Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease: An American Heart Association Scientific Statement From the Council on Clinical Cardiology (Subcommittee on Exercise, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and Prevention) and the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Subcommittee on Physical Activity), in Collaboration with the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Circulation, 111, 369-376. doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000151788.08740.5C
Kokkinos, P.F., Gianneloi, A., Manolis, A., & Pittaras, A. (2009). Physical Activity in the Prevention and Management of High Blood Pressure. Hellenic Journal of Cardiology, 50, 52-59. Retrieved from http://www.hellenicjcardiol.com/archive/ full_text/2009/1/2009_1_52.pdf.
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada: My Blood Pressure Action Plan; Get Your Blood Pressure Under Control; Public Recommendations: Hypertension.

H. Physical activity and type 2 diabetes; I. Diabetes: how to stay safe when active

References and useful links:

Hayes, C. & Krisk, A. (2008). Role of Physical Activity in Diabetes Management and Prevention. Journal of American Dietetic Association, 108, S19-S23. doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.01.016
Sigal, R.J., Wasserman, D.H., Kenny, G.P., & Castaneda-Sceppa, C. (2004). Physical Activity/Exercise and Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 27, 2518-2539. doi:10.2337/dc06-9910
American College of Sports Medicine and the American Diabetes Association. (2010). Exercise and Type 2 Diabetes: Joint Position Statement. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 42, 2282-2303. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181eeb61c
Canadian Diabetes Association: Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada (2008).
Canadian Diabetes Association, general information to share with clients: Diabetes and You
American Diabetes Association: Fitness resources.

J. Healthy weight and physical activity

References and useful links:

Donnelly, J.E., Blair, S.N., Jakicic, J.M., Manore, M.M., Rankin, J.W., & Smith B.K. (2009). Appropriate Physical Activity Intervention Strategies for Weight Loss and Prevention of Weight Regain for Adults (Special Communications, Position Stand). Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 41, 459-471. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181949333
Jakicic, J.M. (2009). The Effect of Physical Activity on Body Weight. Obesity, 17, S34–S38. doi:10.1038/oby.2009.386
Freedhoff, Y., Sharma, A.M. (2010). Best weight: A practical guide to office-based obesity management. Retrieved from http://www.obesitynetwork.ca/best-weight.
Lau, D.C.W. (2007). Synopsis of the 2006 Canadian clinical practice guidelines on the management and prevention of obesity in adults and children. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 176. doi:10.1503/cmaj.070306
Canadian Obesity Network: A selection of helpful resources.
. . .

Additional References

The following references were helpful in the development of all the Toolkit resources.

Physical Activity Counselling

Peterson, J.A. (2007). Get moving! Physical activity counseling in primary care Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, 19, 349–357. doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2007.00239.x
Rejeski, W. J., Brawley, L.R., Ambrosius, W.T., Brubaker, P. H., Focht, B.C., Foy, C.G., & Fox, D. (2003). Older adults with chronic disease: Benefits of group-mediated counseling in the promotion of physically active lifestyles. Health Psychology, 22, 414-423. doi: 10.1037/0278-6133.22.4.414
Rollnick, S., Butler, C.C., McCambridge, J., Kinnersley, P., Elwyn, G., & Resnicow, K. (2005) Consultations about changing behavior. Behavioral Medicine Journal, 331, 961. doi: 10.1136/bmj.331.7522.961

Patient Education and Health Literacy

Vallence, J.K., Taylor, L.M., & Lavallee, C. (2008). Suitability and readability assessment of educational print resources related to physical activity: Implications and recommendations for practice. Patient Education and Counseling, 72, 342–349. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2008.03.010
Doak, C.C., Doak, L.G., & Root, J.H. (1996) Teaching Patients with Low Literacy Skills, 2nd edition. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company.
Rudd, R.E., Kaphingst, K., Colton, T., Gregoire, J., & Hyde, J. (2004). Rewriting Public Health Information in Plain Language. Journal of Health Communication, 9, 195-206. doi: 10.1080/10810730490447039
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Simply Put: A guide for creating easy to understand materials. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/pdf/ Simply_Put.pdf.
Alberta Centre for Active Living. (2007). Literacy and Health: Implications for Active Living, WellSpring, 18.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011). Plain Language: A Promising Strategy for Clearly Communicating Health Information and Improving Health Literacy. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov/communication/ literacy/plainlanguage/IssueBrief.pdf.