PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AWARENESS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC DISEASES IN EASTERN SLOVAKIA

This monograph aimed to determine the level of awareness and meeting of recommendations regarding the implementation of physical activity in selected chronic disease risk groups in eastern Slovakia. We were also interested in the role of physicians and healthcare staff in terms of recommending physical activity during the patients´ treatment and meeting these recommendations by the patients.

The presented cross-sectional study, conducted on selected chronic disease patients, found that most patients are aware of the importance of physical activity in the treatment of their conditions. We also found that almost half of the patients obtained only general information on the importance of PA. One-third of the patients was provided very detailed information. The majority of the patients in this study had sufficient information on the minimum requirements for PA - frequency, duration, intensity and were familiar with effective physical exercises in the prevention and treatment of their conditions.

These results underline the importance of education and awareness of a healthy lifestyle, inherently including physical activity, not only for the healthy population, but also for  people at risk of such diseases that do not prevent them from performing physical activity.