Course Description:

Chronic disease is a huge burden to the health care system. Fifty percent of the risk associated with chronic disease is attributable to lifestyle choices. Aside from smoking, hypertension, type II diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity contribute significantly to the morbidity, mortality, and negative quality of life associated with chronic diseases. All can be significantly improved through lifestyle changes. With our wide scope of practice, physical therapists are positioned well to engage in lifestyle behavior change. This course aims to encourage incorporation of lifestyle behavioral change relating to chronic disease into clinical practice to alter the course of our patient's future health care utilization, morbidity, mortality, and quality of life.