EXERCISE EXERCISE ADHERENCEADHERENCE

Damon BurtonDamon Burton

University of IdahoUniversity of Idaho

WHAT IS EXERCISE WHAT IS EXERCISE ADHERENCE?ADHERENCE?

Exercise Adherence (EA) Exercise Adherence (EA) – – is the is the ability to maintain an exercise ability to maintain an exercise program for an extended time period.program for an extended time period.

Exercise adherence is one of the Exercise adherence is one of the biggest health problems for American biggest health problems for American adults. adults.

EA is also a problem for children and EA is also a problem for children and adolescents, probably due in part to adolescents, probably due in part to extensive reductions in required extensive reductions in required physical education classes. physical education classes.

EXERCISE ADHERENCEEXERCISE ADHERENCE

How big of a problem is How big of a problem is exercise adherence among exercise adherence among American adults?American adults?

EXERCISE EXERCISE STATISTICSSTATISTICS

45% of adults are sedentary (i.e., 45% of adults are sedentary (i.e., totally inactive). totally inactive).

Only 65% of children participate in Only 65% of children participate in regular physical activity.regular physical activity.

35% of adults exercise once per week.35% of adults exercise once per week.

10-20% of adults get health benefits 10-20% of adults get health benefits from physical activity.from physical activity.

10% of sedentary adults begin 10% of sedentary adults begin exercise programs each year.exercise programs each year.

50% of new exercisers will drop out 50% of new exercisers will drop out within six months.within six months.

EXERCISE ADHERENCEEXERCISE ADHERENCE

What are the major reasons What are the major reasons why adults exercise?why adults exercise?

REASONS ADULTS REASONS ADULTS EXERCISEEXERCISE

Weight control for appearance and Weight control for appearance and health.health.

Health benefits--particularly for Health benefits--particularly for cardiovascular problems (i.e., cardiovascular problems (i.e., hypertension).hypertension).

Stress and depression management.Stress and depression management.

Enjoyment.Enjoyment.

Building self-esteem.Building self-esteem.

Social and affiliation benefits.Social and affiliation benefits.

EXERCISE ADHERENCEEXERCISE ADHERENCE

Do the reasons adults start Do the reasons adults start an exercise program differ an exercise program differ from the reasons that they from the reasons that they continue to exercise?continue to exercise?

REASONS FOR INITIATING REASONS FOR INITIATING EXERCISE PROGRAMSEXERCISE PROGRAMS

Health benefits.Health benefits.

Weight control.Weight control.

Appearance.Appearance.

Increased energy.Increased energy.

Mobility issues (e.g., joint Mobility issues (e.g., joint problems).problems).

Meet people.Meet people.

REASONS FOR REASONS FOR MAINTAINING MAINTAINING

EXERCISE PROGRAMSEXERCISE PROGRAMS

Stress and depression Stress and depression management.management.

Enjoyment.Enjoyment.

Building self-esteem.Building self-esteem.

Maintaining social Maintaining social relationships.relationships.

Weight maintenance.Weight maintenance.

Health maintenance.Health maintenance.

EXERCISE ADHERENCEEXERCISE ADHERENCE

What are the common What are the common excuses for not exercising?excuses for not exercising?

EXERCISE BARRIERSEXERCISE BARRIERS

Lack of time.Lack of time.

Lack of knowledge.Lack of knowledge.

Lack of facilities.Lack of facilities.

Fatigue.Fatigue.

OTHER EXERCISE OTHER EXERCISE BARRIERSBARRIERS

• Social support barriers.Social support barriers.

• Health and fitness barriers.Health and fitness barriers.

• Other commitments.Other commitments.

• Resource barriers.Resource barriers.

• Programming barriers.Programming barriers.

FACTORS IMPACING FACTORS IMPACING EXERCISE ADHERENCEEXERCISE ADHERENCE

• Personality factors.Personality factors.

• Situational factors.Situational factors.

• Behavioral factors.Behavioral factors.

• Programmatic factors.Programmatic factors.

PERSONAL FACTORSPERSONAL FACTORS

Exercise history.Exercise history.Knowledge/beliefs about Knowledge/beliefs about

health benefits of exercise.health benefits of exercise.Personality factors:Personality factors:Type A versus Type B.Type A versus Type B.Self-motivation.Self-motivation.

BEHAVIORAL BEHAVIORAL FACTORSFACTORS

Smoking.Smoking.Income.Income.Education.Education.Occupational status:Occupational status:““Blue collar”.Blue collar”.““White collar”.White collar”.

SITUATIONAL SITUATIONAL FACTORSFACTORS

Social support.Social support.Convenience of Convenience of facility.facility.

Time.Time.Climate or region.Climate or region.DQ 5: Should everyone participate in both group and individual exercise activities?

PROGRAMMATIC PROGRAMMATIC FACTORSFACTORS

Exercise intensity.Exercise intensity.Group versus individual Group versus individual programs.programs.

Qualities of exercise Qualities of exercise leaders.leaders.

EXERCISE ADHERENCE EXERCISE ADHERENCE STRATEGIESSTRATEGIES

Environmental approaches.Reinforcement approaches.Goal setting and cognitive approaches.Decision-making approaches.Social support approaches.

ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACHESAPPROACHES

PromptsPrompts ContractsContracts Perceived choicePerceived choice

REINFORCEMENT REINFORCEMENT APPROACHESAPPROACHES

Attendance and Attendance and participation rewards.participation rewards.

Feedback and testing.Feedback and testing.

Self-monitoring and Self-monitoring and self-reward.self-reward.

GOAL SETTING & GOAL SETTING & COGNITIVE COGNITIVE

APPROACHESAPPROACHES

Goals.Goals.

Self talk.Self talk.

Thought focus strategies:Thought focus strategies:

•Association.Association.

•Dissociation.Dissociation.

DECISION-MAKING & DECISION-MAKING & SOCIAL SUPPORT SOCIAL SUPPORT

APPROACHESAPPROACHES

Decision-balance sheet Decision-balance sheet (cost/benefit analysis).(cost/benefit analysis).

Social support from Social support from partner, group or class.partner, group or class.

BEST EXERCISE BEST EXERCISE ADHERENCE STRATEGIESADHERENCE STRATEGIES

1.1.Make exercise fun and enjoyable.Make exercise fun and enjoyable.

2.2.Tailor exercise frequency, duration Tailor exercise frequency, duration and intensity to the exerciser.and intensity to the exerciser.

3.3.Promote group exercise.Promote group exercise.

4.4.Keep daily exercise logs.Keep daily exercise logs.

5.5.Reinforce success.Reinforce success.

6.6.Find a convenient place to exercise.Find a convenient place to exercise.