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/Highlights/ Multimorbidity and Physical Activity - Dr Søren Thorgaard Skou (Pt2)

·23 min·2 clips

Dr. Skou exposes a major research blind spot: we lack evidence on exercise for people with multiple chronic diseases.

This episode continues a conversation with Dr. Søren Thorgaard Skou, a physical therapist and researcher, on physical activity for people with multiple chronic conditions, or multimorbidity. Host Oli Tikkanen guides a discussion on moving from individual responsibility to systemic support for prevention and treatment. Dr. Skou argues that while physical inactivity is a major risk factor for many conditions, prevention requires structural changes, not just individual willpower. He specifically cites the need to redesign the built environment to prioritize walking and biking over cars. A key challenge in managing multimorbidity is "treatment burden," where well-intended advice from various healthcare providers becomes overwhelming for the patient. Dr. Skou references a systematic review by colleague Alessio Bricca identifying two crucial factors for behavior change: fostering social connections for group exercise and planning simple, practical actions in daily life. The conversation critiques current physical activity apps for chronic conditions, noting a review found most have low-to-moderate potential for behavior change. Apps for osteoarthritis were notably poor, while those for depression showed slightly more promise. Dr. Skou highlights the SelfBACK app for low back pain as a better example due to its extensive development phase involving end-users. He emphasizes the necessity of multi-professional teams, including industry partners and patients, to develop effective digital tools. The discussion reveals a significant evidence gap, as most exercise research excludes people with comorbidities, though projects like Mobilize are working to fill it. Early data suggests exercise may reduce the risk of serious adverse events for this population. The tone is collaborative and educational, focusing on practical implementation and systemic hurdles. Listeners interested in public health, behavioral science, or health tech will find concrete strategies and critical appraisals here. Those seeking a purely motivational fitness talk or deep dive into a single physiological mechanism might find the systemic and research-focused approach less engaging.

As heard by us

A careful look at prevention, app design, and how evidence reaches practice.

This episode sticks to the practical center of multimorbidity prevention: movement, diet, weight, and the reminder that behavior is never only an individual issue.

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Why you'd press play

A relaxed research talk on multimorbidity prevention, physical activity, apps, and how evidence makes its way into practice.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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