Physiotherapists possess a unique ability to engage individuals in active lifestyles and educate them on the health benefits of physical activity. Our goal with this project was not only to influence people's lives but also to position our profession as key health promoters within the general population, including healthy individuals.
The program accompanies participants over an 8-9 week period, taking them from a sedentary state to the ability to run 5 kilometers. Entirely virtual, the project is delivered via WhatsApp groups, where participants receive weekly training plans consisting of three independent workout sessions. The program is supported by an app that guides trainees through each phase of the workout. Participants also receive:
- Professional support from physiotherapists.
- Educational content about physical activity.
- Training tips.
- At least one Zoom lecture designed to promote an active lifestyle.
To date, we have implemented 10 running programs, with approximately 12,000 runners participating. Of these, around 1,200 runners joined us in official races, while the rest completed the 5K distance independently. Additionally, 800 participants continue to stay in touch with us, and many have integrated running into their daily lives.
The project has demonstrated that inactive individuals can be motivated to start exercising through professional support, group encouragement, and accessible technological tools. The unique contribution of physiotherapists lies in their expertise in movement science, injury prevention, and rehabilitation, ensuring that participants engage in safe and effective training tailored to their needs.
The project highlights the unique contribution of physiotherapists in promoting safe and effective training. Their expertise in movement science, injury prevention, and rehabilitation ensures participants’ training is tailored to their needs. Physiotherapists are not only rehabilitation specialists but also essential health promoters, and this knowledge should remain central to their mission. The project's success has shown its potential to impact public health on a national level
We believe in our potential to impact public health at a national level and have already demonstrated this through the program’s success. Another key benefit of the project is the positioning of physiotherapists not only as rehabilitation specialists but also as health promoters. The knowledge that we, as physiotherapists, play an essential role in influencing the health of the population is crucial and should remain central to our mission.
physical activity
public health
