THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS IN SPECIALIZED REHABILITATION FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC-DEGENERATIVE DISEASES

Abstract

Studies on the beneficial effects of physical exercise are becoming increasingly widespread in the literature; however, in contemporary society, there has been an increase in sedentary lifestyles and the consequent growth of chronic diseases. Based on this scenario, physical education professionals are increasingly inserted in diverse spheres, whose objectives range from educational training in schools to secondary prevention work within hospital environments, listed as interdisciplinary teams. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the perception of participants in rehabilitation programs for chronic degenerative diseases about the role of physical education professionals and their relationship with exercise. A total of 126 individuals of both genders with an average age of 65 years were evaluated through a questionnaire prepared by the authors of this study, containing 10 closed questions and 3 open questions. Data collection was performed at the Amil United Hospital/SP and CentroCor/SP. A descriptive analysis was performed using an Excel spreadsheet. It was observed that 82% of the participants demonstrated that they felt very safe when being attended by the physical education professional in the rehabilitation environment, 99% classified them as very important in addition to having knowledge about the benefits of physical exercise (76.2%), however it was observed that 72.2% of the interviewees did not demonstrate having knowledge about the professional who treated them. Concluding that the Physical Education professional proved to be important in the patients' view, however there was a lack of discernment regarding the Physical Education professional as the promoter of physical exercises in rehabilitation centers for chronic-degenerative diseases.