Table 4.
Exercise Characteristics by Providers Who Prescribed Exercise (n=684)
| EXERCISE CHARACTERISTIC | Physical Therapist (PT) | Physician (MD) | Chiropractor (DC) | Significant Differences (P<.10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provided Supervision (%) | 65.5 | 29.3 | 28.6 | PT > MD, DC (P<.001) |
| Type of Exercise (%): | ||||
| Walking | 52.2 | 70.1 | 50.8 | PT < MD (P=.09) |
| Stretching | 92.2 | 75.6 | 87.3 | PT > MD (P=.003) |
| Strengthening | 70.1 | 56.4 | 55.8 | PT > MD (P=.05) PT > DC (P=.08) |
| Range of Motion | 81.2 | 71.7 | 76.4 | NS |
| Posture | 43.3 | 37.6 | 39.5 | NS |
| Mean Duration (mins/session): | ||||
| Walking | 20.6 | 27.4 | 28.1 | PT < MD (P=.02) PT < DC (P=.08) |
| Stretching | 15.8 | 10.3 | 11.6 | PT > MD (P=.003) PT > DC (P=.04) |
| Strengthening | 17.8 | 16.8 | 13.9 | NS |
| Range of Motion | 13.5 | 10.7 | 10.9 | NS |
| Posture | 15.1 | 14.4 | 10.7 | NS |
| Mean Frequency (times/wk): | ||||
| Walking | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.8 | NS |
| Stretching | 5.6 | 5.7 | 5.8 | NS |
| Strengthening | 4.7 | 5.4 | 4.7 | NS |
| Range of Motion | 4.8 | 5.5 | 5.9 | NS |
| Posture | 5.4 | 4.6 | 4.2 | NS |
| Mean total mins. of ex/wk | 266 | 228 | 210 | NS |