Perceptions of physical activity by older adults: A qualitative study

Abstract

Objective To identify issues and perceptions concerning physical activity in older adults. Design Qualitative study. Setting Perth, Western Australia. Methods Sixteen adults aged 65 to 74 years were interviewed in their own homes using a semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using a descriptive qualitative methodology. Results Participants believed that physical activity provided health benefits and reflected positively on physical activity experiences when they were younger, with many expressing a desire to engage in less age-appropriate activities. The major barrier to physical activity was pain. Participants described both positive and negative examples related to society’s support of physical activity. Conclusions A number of issues were raised. These included: the need for more specific information on the benefits of physical activity; the role of pain management in physical activity; the concept that involvement in physical activity in younger years leads to involvement when older; and the expressed desire of older people to engage in less age-appropriate physical activities.

Interventions to promote or maintain physical activity during and after the transition to retirement: an evidence synthesis

“…A total of 11 studies were carried out in Australia [167][168][169][170][171][172][173][174][175] or New Zealand, 176,177 four were carried out in Canada, [178][179][180][181] one in South Africa (producing two papers) 182,183 and one in Chile 184 ( Figure 9). …”

“…Other participants cited current or potential health issues as a barrier to carrying out physical activity. 130,131,142,[146][147][148]158,160,164,168,170,174,178,180,184 A decline in health could prevent older people from going out generally and thus lead to isolation. 134 Participants in one study 154 suggest that a positive attitude towards health and functionality can assist in maintaining activity, whereas a negative attitude is more likely to result in older people focusing on limitations to remaining active.…”

“…Five studies 153,156,158,168,174 reported that participants could feel uncomfortable carrying out activities that they regarded as age inappropriate, and a further study 131 found that retired people reported gentle exercise such as yoga and swimming to be more acceptable to their age group. Activities that might be described as 'sport' were deemed less acceptable as they may be dangerous, particularly for women.…”

Measuring barriers to adherence: validation of the problematic experiences of therapy scale

“…Previous studies that elicit participants' perceived reasons for non-adherence have typically employed qualitative methods [32][33][34]. Although these in-depth methods are important for the understanding of the patient perspective, their findings cannot be easily integrated into statistical analyses of outcomes, and are more difficult to use in clinical practice [38].…”

“…Measures do exist that assess the perspective of the health provider in relation to adherence [29], participation [30] and engagement [31] with rehabilitation in a treatment-based setting. Few studies explicitly ask patients to report what they felt were the specific reasons for their non-adherence, and studies that do this typically employ qualitative methods [32][33][34]. One such study that employed quantitative methods to do this was carried out by Leijon and colleagues [14], who followed up patients who did not adhere to their physical activity prescription.…”