Barriers to Physical activity among a sample of older African American adults

Older adults are a growing segment of today's population. Older adults experience numerous health issues at their age and may be managing one or more chronic diseases. They may be experiencing issues with raising grandchildren, taking care of a spouse, unemployment, balancing work and home life, and retirement. Difficulty adhering to managing or preventing chronic diseases is an important issue in clinical medicine and public health. In depth semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 28 older adult African American men and women at a health department clinic in a southeastern state. The patients were enrolled in the state funded Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program. The Colaizzi style method was used in data analysis. Data analysis occurred immediately after interview transcription. Common perceived barriers to physical activity included lack of motivation, fear of falling, and fear of crime in their neighborhood. They reported that access to a gym, having safe sidewalks, self-confidence, and social support from family and friends were important to overcome their perceived barriers to physical activity. They reported knowledge of the perceived benefits of physical activity and its importance in managing and preventing chronic disease. Limitations included lack of generalization of results to all populations in US, and possibly interviewing patients who were satisfied with their medical care in the Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program. Community based programs focused on older adults should consider and address perceived barriers to physical activity in their planning and implementation efforts.