Marcia R Franco1, Allison Tong2, Kirsten Howard2, Catherine Sherrington1, Paulo H Ferreira3, Rafael Z Pinto4, Manuela L Ferreira1. 1. The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 2. School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3. Faculty of Health Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 4. Pain Management Research Institute, University of Sydney at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Departamento de Fisioterapia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, UNESP-Univ Estadual Paulista, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity accounts for 9% of all deaths worldwide and is among the top 10 risk factors for global disease burden. Nearly half of people aged over 60 years are inactive. Efforts to identify which factors influence physical activity behaviour are needed. OBJECTIVE: To identify and synthesise the range of barriers and facilitators to physical activity participation. METHODS: Systematic review of qualitative studies on the perspectives of physical activity among people aged 60 years and over. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and AMED were searched. Independent raters assessed comprehensiveness of reporting of included studies. Thematic synthesis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: From 132 studies involving 5987 participants, we identified six major themes: social influences (valuing interaction with peers, social awkwardness, encouragement from others, dependence on professional instruction); physical limitations (pain or discomfort, concerns about falling, comorbidities); competing priorities; access difficulties (environmental barriers, affordability); personal benefits of physical activity (strength, balance and flexibility, self-confidence, independence, improved health and mental well-being); and motivation and beliefs (apathy, irrelevance and inefficacy, maintaining habits). CONCLUSIONS: Some older people still believe that physical activity is unnecessary or even potentially harmful. Others recognise the benefits of physical activity, but report a range of barriers to physical activity participation. Strategies to enhance physical activity participation among older people should include (1) raising awareness of the benefits and minimise the perceived risks of physical activity and (2) improving the environmental and financial access to physical activity opportunities. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity accounts for 9% of all deaths worldwide and is among the top 10 risk factors for global disease burden. Nearly half of people aged over 60 years are inactive. Efforts to identify which factors influence physical activity behaviour are needed. OBJECTIVE: To identify and synthesise the range of barriers and facilitators to physical activity participation. METHODS: Systematic review of qualitative studies on the perspectives of physical activity among people aged 60 years and over. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsychINFO and AMED were searched. Independent raters assessed comprehensiveness of reporting of included studies. Thematic synthesis was used to analyse the data. RESULTS: From 132 studies involving 5987 participants, we identified six major themes: social influences (valuing interaction with peers, social awkwardness, encouragement from others, dependence on professional instruction); physical limitations (pain or discomfort, concerns about falling, comorbidities); competing priorities; access difficulties (environmental barriers, affordability); personal benefits of physical activity (strength, balance and flexibility, self-confidence, independence, improved health and mental well-being); and motivation and beliefs (apathy, irrelevance and inefficacy, maintaining habits). CONCLUSIONS: Some older people still believe that physical activity is unnecessary or even potentially harmful. Others recognise the benefits of physical activity, but report a range of barriers to physical activity participation. Strategies to enhance physical activity participation among older people should include (1) raising awareness of the benefits and minimise the perceived risks of physical activity and (2) improving the environmental and financial access to physical activity opportunities. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://group.bmj.com/group/rights-licensing/permissions.
Authors: Cheri L McGowan; David N Proctor; Ian Swaine; Robert D Brook; Elizabeth A Jackson; Phillip D Levy Journal: Curr Hypertens Rep Date: 2017-06 Impact factor: 5.369
Authors: Louise M Thoma; Dorothy Dunlop; Jing Song; Jungwha Lee; Catrine Tudor-Locke; Elroy J Aguiar; Hiral Master; Meredith B Christiansen; Daniel K White Journal: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken) Date: 2018-10 Impact factor: 4.794
Authors: Å von Berens; A Koochek; M Nydahl; R A Fielding; T Gustafsson; D R Kirn; T Cederholm; M Södergren Journal: J Nutr Health Aging Date: 2018 Impact factor: 4.075