Perceived Benefits and Barriers to Exercise among Physically Active and Non-Active Elderly People
Purpose: Adhering to a physically active lifestyle and exercising regularly is a challenge for many elderly people. Identifying the factors that influence such adherence may help in policy-making and in promoting a physically active lifestyle. This study aimed to compare perceived benefits and barriers to exercise among physically active and non-active elderly persons.
Method: Around 140 elderly persons with normal cognition and no depression, living in the community, were divided into two groups - the physically active and the non-active - using Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale. Their perception about benefits, barriers and motivators for exercise were studied using Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale. The scores of both groups were analysed.
Results: A significant difference was found in scores of perceived benefits and scores of motivators in both groups (p <0.0003 and <0.0001 respectively), but no difference was found in perceived barriers(p=0.0607). Strongest benefit perceived by the physically active elderly was “Exercise helps me to sleep better”, and the strongest motivator was “I enjoy exercise”.
Conclusion: The study shows that although both the physically active and non-active elderly perceive equal barriers for exercise, the benefit perceptions and motivators seem to play a significant role in adhering to a physically active lifestyle and exercising regularly. Spreading awareness about such benefits and the reduction of barriers may help in promoting regular physical activity among the elderly.
Keywords
Authors
How to Cite
Download Citation
License
Copyright © 2019 The Author(s)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License By-NC-ND 4.0 that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access ).
Similar Articles
- Eka Bagus Rachdito, Zinggara Hidayat, Emoticons as Self-Disclosure in Social Media and Its Meaning for People Who are Deaf , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 32 No. 4: Winter 2021
- Amina Mohamed, Manpreet Kaur Virdi, Janeki Roux, Danny Liu, Matthew Hunt, Sidhiprada Mohapatra, Community-Based Rehabilitation in Settings of Armed Conflict, Natural Disaster, or Mass Displacement: A Scoping Review , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 33 No. 4 (2022): Winter
- Nizar Abdul Majeed Kutty, Nishad Abdul Latheef Majida, Effects of Multisensory Training on Balance and Gait in Persons with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomised Controlled Trial , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 24 No. 2 (2013): Summer
- Swati Ashok Kurne, Anita Dipak Gupta, Impact of Long-term Use of Adaptive Seating Device among Children with Cerebral Palsy and their Families in Mumbai, India: A feasibility study , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 27 No. 3 (2016): Autumn 2016
- Hilary Kibele Harawo, Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, Extra-Institutional Factors Limiting Access to Rehabilitation Services for Children with Cerebral Palsy: Perspectives of Caregivers in Marsabit County, Kenya , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 32 No. 4: Winter 2021
- Saul Cobbing, Bernhard Gaede, Verusia Chetty, Theresa Lorenzo, Pushing Down the Walls: Advocating for “Rehabilitation for All” in South Africa , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 33 No. 3: (Autumn) - 2022
- Nicole Bishop, Dr Raania Amaani, Professor Deepthi N Shanbhag, Professor Beena Koshy, Fairlene Soji, Associate Professor Kaaren Mathias, Dr Lorane Scaria , Professor Saju Madavanakadu Devassy, Francis Annuncia S, Shiva Mohan Rao , Dr Suresh Karuppannan, Professor Nathan Grills , Experiences Caregiving Together: Optimising the Involvement of Fathers of Children with Disabilities in India , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 37 No. 1 (2026): Spring Issue
- Joyce den Besten, Marije Tebogo Cornielje, Huib Cornielje, David Norden Botwey, Supporting Parents in Caring for Children with Disability in Ghana , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 27 No. 3 (2016): Autumn 2016
- Gerald Odhiambo Oler, Linda Niemeyer, Caregiver Perceptions about Factors Impacting their Ability to Carry out Home-Based Therapy Programmes in Central Botswana: A Qualitative Study , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 34 No. 2 (2023): Summer Issue
- Akiko Yokoyama, Kamolpun Punpuing, Have Thailand’s Personal Assistance Services for Persons with Disabilities Evolved? , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 34 No. 3 (2023): Autumn Issue 2023
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Atiya A Shaikh, Janhavi Jagdish Atre, Barriers and Facilitators to Community Ambulation in Maharashtra, India: Perception of Individuals with Stroke , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 30 No. 4 (2019): Winter 2019