Since March 1, 2017, a decree has been issued allowing clinicians to prescribe adaptive physical activity (APA) to patients with long-term disease (ALD). This recognition of adaptive sports as a non-pharmacological treatment could benefit ten to eleven million French people suffering from about thirty chronic diseases known as ALD.
How does the modified sport recipe work in practice?
to describe Adaptive physical activity The physician must complete a specific form specifying therapeutic goals desirable (weight control, improved muscle strength, improved cardio respiratory capacity, etc.) and contraindications patient specific. He then directs it to local actors active in implementing modified physical activity: club sports teachers, physiotherapists, psychometricians, or occupational therapists.
By their form, patients can go to the gym of their choice (provided that it offers activities appropriate to their state of health) or, in certain cities, to the Town Hall if it has a referral system for patients (this is the case, for example, in Strasbourg).
If he chooses to go to a gym, the patient will be cared for by a APA coach teacher Who provides him with a program of activities adapted to his peculiarities and the goals set by the doctor. Regularly, the breeder sends a file Activity Report For the doctor who prescribes the achievement of goals.
What does the doctor base his advice on about ABS?
The doctor’s advice is based primarily on The patient’s health condition : the disease, the desired therapeutic goals, the particular limitations of the patient (contraindications), but also on his or her tastes. In fact, to ensure that the patient engages in appropriate physical activity in the long term, and is the best guarantee of positive effects, the physician asks his patient about His desires, his possible sports past, his preferences (individual or team sport, indoor or outdoor sport, for example), etc.
To support his recommendations, the doctor has a database, and MedicoSport Health, published by the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). This database lists, discipline by discipline, benefits, risks, methods of adaptation, target audiences, federations involved, etc.
Finally, the doctor’s advice is based on his knowledge of local resources In terms of sports clubs or other structures that offer ABS activities.
Who Pays for Modified Physical Activity Sessions?
The financial question is the weak point of this new metric. In fact, nothing is planned nationally to reimburse these costs, as there is for drug treatments. The state depends on local communities (eg regions under regional health programmes) and Supplementary insurance companies (“Mutual”) to fund this activity.
Depending on the city and district, financial aid schemes are sometimes offered to offset all or part of the costs, generally for the first year of practice. For example, in Strasbourg, where the prescription sport was launched in 2012, it benefits about 1,500 people. Free for the first year, the cost of the APA is determined by income. Financial assistance is provided by the City of Strasbourg, the Regional Health Agency, the local health insurance scheme, Strasbourg University Hospitals, Bas-Rhin County Council, etc.
Costs generally remain modest, except for activities that require significant equipment.