Adherence to a Physical Activity Program Depends on Individual Fitness Purpose in Older Persons

The effect of a long-term program on adherence in older adults seeking to improve low physical fitness compared to a multiactivity practice was studied. Seventy persons (+ 60 years) took part in 10 months program, distributing in three groups: low cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness (n=25, CMF), low coordination and motor skills (n=21, CBM) and free-choice multi-physical activities (n=24, MPA). Adherence was assessed by quantitative indicators and analysis of temporal dynamics. Adherence was 61.3 ± 25.8% for the CMF group, 49.7 ± 25.0% for the CBM and 33.3 ± 25.8 for the MPA. Only about 42% of the participants in MPA would continue the program for 10 consecutive months. The curve of adherence decreased regularly during the 10-month program: after 6 months adherence had fallen by 20% for CMF and by 14% for CBM, and after 10 months by 24% for CMF and by 19% for CBM. When physical activity program was supervised by the same instructor and when the participant’s individual goal was clear, adherence was significantly higher (p<0.05) in the range 76-81%.