This study aims to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in clients presenting for primary care physiotherapy in private practice and to identify factors associated with the condition. A secondary aim is to assess the feasibility of physiotherapists conducting health screenings using point-of-care testing for cholesterol and blood glucose in private practice settings in Australia.
A mixed-methods, cross-sectional study was conducted, using self-reported and biometric data from clients, alongside qualitative interviews with clients and physiotherapists. Physiotherapy practices involved were spread across metropolitan and regional Victoria, Australia. Data collected included socio-demographic and lifestyle characteristics, such as physical activity, diet, and socioeconomic status. As per the International Consensus Statement, metabolic syndrome was diagnosed based on the presence of three or more risk factors (central obesity, hypertension, raised triglycerides, low HDL-cholesterol, and high blood glucose) from physical examination and capillary blood samples. Interviews were analysed using interpretative description and inductive thematic analysis.
A total of 230 clients (mean age 54 years, SD 18; 64% women) participated in the study, with follow-up interviews conducted with 20 clients and eight physiotherapists. Thirty-seven percent of participants had metabolic syndrome, although none were aware of their condition. Metabolic syndrome was associated with older age, lower socioeconomic status, and lower physical activity levels, though no association was found with diet. Three themes emerged from client and physiotherapist interviews: clients found screening convenient and informative, and saw it as fitting into routine physiotherapy, while physiotherapists viewed screening as valuable but expressed uncertainty about how it could be fully integrated into practice.
Metabolic syndrome is prevalent and under-diagnosed among clients attending private practice physiotherapy. Health screening programs in private physiotherapy practices are both feasible and appreciated by clients. Future research is needed to successfully implement and evaluate the impact of such screening and health promotion programs.
Integrating routine health screening into physiotherapy practice can enhance early detection and prevention of chronic conditions, improve patient outcomes, and promote a more holistic approach to care. However, to enable this, physiotherapists will require additional training in health screening. Furthermore, changes to health policy and funding models are necessary to support these efforts to prioritise and adequately reimburse health promotion and disease prevention in private practice settings.
Health promotion
Physical activity
