Epidemiol Health.  2019;41:e2019049. 10.4178/epih.e2019049.

A systematic review of barriers and motivators to physical activity in elderly adults in Iran and worldwide

• Yarmohammadi S
• Mozafar Saadati H
• Ghaffari M
• Ramezankhani A

• KMID: 2469450
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2019049

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study was conducted to identify and characterize the barriers and motivations to physical activity (PA) for elderly adults in Iran and other countries.
METHODS
We searched 6 databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Magiran, and the Scientific Information Database) from 2000 to the November 2017, using "aged 60 and over,""physical activity" or "exercise," and "motivator" and "barrier" as keywords. Two reviewers independently performed the search, screening, and quality assessment of the studies.
RESULTS
In total, 34 papers were finally included in the study. The most important barriers, based on the frequency of factors, included physical problems, having no companions, and physical barriers to walking. The motivators included improving one's physical condition, being social, and suitability of the physical environment.
CONCLUSIONS
Important motivators and barriers to PA were more closely related to intrapersonal factors than to the interpersonal and environmental domains. The barriers and motivators to PA in the elderly were not markedly different between Iran and other countries. Therefore, a general strategy could be designed to improve PA in the elderly.

Keyword

Motivation; Sedentary behavior; Exercise; Motor activity; Aging

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Aged*
Aging
Architectural Accessibility
Friends
Humans
Iran*
Mass Screening
Motivation
Motor Activity*
Walking