Older Adults’ Perceptions of the Usefulness of Technologies for Engaging in Physical Activity: Using Focus Groups to Explore Physical Literacy

Abstract

Insufficient physical activity (PA) levels observed among older adults remain extremely high and pose a danger to developing and maintaining their physical literacy (PL). Each person’s level of PL partly depends on their physical and cognitive skills, confidence level, and degree of motivation to practice PA daily. New technologies, such as exergames and wearable fitness trackers, may enable older adults to increase their PL, stimulating uptake and ongoing PA participation. Objective: This focus group study aims to describe older adults’ perceptions of the use of technologies to engage in physical exercise programs. Methods: Fifteen participants were randomly selected from a sample of 40 older adults who completed a randomized controlled trial that investigated the benefits of using technology in the context of group-based exercise programs. Separate post-intervention focus groups were performed with an exergaming group, a conventional physical training group, and a no training group (control). Data were mapped onto constructs from the four domains of PL: affective, physical, cognitive, and behavioral. Results: Generally, participants expressed positive perceptions about the benefits of using technology to engage in PA. These positive feelings outweighed the costs and the lack of familiarization with technology. Common themes for the three groups emerged from the discussions and included familiarization with technology, using fitness tracker to monitor PA, previous exposure to technology, and interaction with peers, staff members, and relatives. In particular, participants from the exergaming group explored the ideas of training their cognitive skills while using the exergame accessories, exercising in an alternative way, competitive versus cooperative play, changes in sense of humor, skill transferability from game to real environment, progressions of the exercise intensities, and the potential use of exergames for rehabilitation. Conclusions: Participants in this study reported positive perceptions about implementing technology into exercise. Emphasizing the benefits of using technology in group-based exercise programs may increase older adults’ PL levels and their future technology adoption. The potential implementation of technology into conventional exercise programs should focus on older adults’ lifelong values, biopsychosocial conditions, and the possibility of reducing age-related risk of injuries and chronic diseases.

Psychometric Validation of Senior Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument

“…A physically literate person needs to have social capability to promote health and physical activity throughout their lifespan. Campelo and Katz [ 12 ] also showed that the social domain of physical literacy includes family interaction, peer interaction, and therapist/staff interaction, etc. Hence, having group exercises or adding social interactions to exercise programs might increase older adults’ interest in participating [ 32 ].…”

“…Physical literacy is “the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge and understanding to value and take responsibility for engagement in physical activities for life” [ 6 ]. Physical literacy also refers to the integration of physical, perceptual, knowledge, cognitive, psychological, sociality, and behavioral capabilities, echoing the need for an active, healthy, and fulfilling lifestyle [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Physical literacy could protect older adults from chronic diseases and disability.…”

"I feel too lethargic to do physical activity": Perceptions of Iranian adults on the barriers to perform regular physical activity

“…46 PA literacy can be a promising strategy for achieving lifelong participation in PA, and is a meaningful approach to reducing sedentary behaviors and preventing chronic diseases. 47 From the participants' point of view, the current general atmosphere of the community is not PA-friendly, and might not motivate people to perform PA. They believed that urbanization and mechanization can lead to laziness and increased sedentary behavior, through changing the patterns of work, transportation, entertainment, and consumption.…”

“…46 PA literacy can be a promising strategy for achieving lifelong participation in PA, and is a meaningful approach to reducing sedentary behaviors and preventing chronic diseases. 47 …”

Kinesiotherapy With Exergaming as a Potential Modulator of Epigenetic Marks and Clinical Functional Variables of Older Women: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study

“…Older people face barriers to take part in exercise, but they identify positive aspects of strength and balance activities [ 16 , 17 ] and report positive perceptions about implementing technology to exercise [ 18 ]. Hence, appropriate programs and interventions based on education and training can help overcome the barriers [ 16 ].…”