"Any movement at all is exercise": a focused ethnography of rural community-dwelling older adults' perceptions and experiences of exercise as self-care

Authors

Laura J. Graham, Western UniversityFollow
Denise M Connelly

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2013

Journal

Physiotherapy Canada

Volume

65

Issue

4

First Page

333

Last Page

341

URL with Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2012-31

Abstract

PURPOSE: To understand rural community-dwelling older adult participants' shared values, beliefs, and behaviours related to exercise as self-care.

METHODS: We conducted a constructivist-focused ethnography involving semi-structured interviews and participant observation with 17 individuals 65 years and older. Interviews were transcribed and inductively coded to develop themes related to exercise, self-care, and exercise as self-care. Field notes were triangulated with follow-up interviews and dialogue between authors to enhance interpretation.

RESULTS: Participants described exercise broadly as movement and not as a central self-care behaviour. However, awareness of the importance and health-related benefits of exercise increased after a significant personal health-related event. Participants preferred exercise that was enjoyable and previously experienced.

CONCLUSIONS: Prescribing exercise for older adults may be particularly effective if the focus is on enjoyable and previously experienced physical activity and if it incorporates interpretation of exercise guidelines and training principles in relation to chronic conditions and potential health benefits.

Notes

Final published version is available at https://doi.org/10.3138/ptc.2012-31

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.