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
- Majid Turmusani, Disability Inclusive Education in Bangladesh , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 34 No. 3 (2023): Autumn Issue 2023
- Hester M van Biljon, Lana van, “I will die before God wants me to.” Factors that affect older adults’ attendance, of public healthcare rehabilitation services in Gauteng, South Africa , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 36 No. 3 (2025): Autumn Issue
- Lekshmi Radhakrishnan Suresh, Kavitha Rai, Amitha Mahesh Hegde, Cynthia Vinitha Dsouza, Barriers to Utilisation of Dental Services among Children with Disabilities in a Coordinated Healthcare Programme in Mangalore, South India: A Mixed Methods Study , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 31 No. 4 (2020): Winter
- Heather Aldersey, Mohammad Morshedul Quadir, Soniya Akter, Rabiul Hossain Mozumder, Nayma Nazneen, Reshma Parvin Nuri, Barriers and Facilitators for Wheelchair Users in Bangladesh: A Participatory Action Research Project , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 29 No. 2 (2018): Summer 2018
- Bharat Joshi, Bigi Thomas, Barriers Faced by Persons with Disabilities in Formal Employment in India , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 30 No. 3 (2019): Autumn 2019
- Judith Baart, Florence Taaka, Barriers to Healthcare Services for People with Disabilities in Developing Countries: A Literature Review , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 28 No. 4 (2017): Winter 2017
- Inoka E Weerasinghe, P Fonseka, S D Dharmaratne, J A M S Jayatilake, Andrea C Gielen, Barriers in Using Assistive Devices among a Group of Community-dwelling Persons with Lower Limb Disabilities in Sri Lanka , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 26 No. 1 (2015): Spring 2015
- Sangita Devi, Soumya Goyal, Savita Ravindra, Evaluation of Environmental Barriers faced by Wheelchair Users in India , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 24 No. 3 (2013): Autumn
- Cristina Nieves Perdomo Delgado, Luis Carlos Paschoarelli, Implementation of a Remote Control Application for Elderly People in Brazil: Analysis of the Factors Involved in the use of a Technological Innovation related to Telecare , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 31 No. 2 (2020): Summer 2020
- Lakshmi Krishnan, Kiran Iyer, Parangimalai Diwakar Madan Madan Kumar, Barriers in Dental Care Delivery for Children with Special Needs in Chennai, India: A Mixed Method Research , Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development: Vol. 29 No. 4 (2018): Winter 2018
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