Module 3: Personal exercise adherence factors and strategies

Development of personal fitness

1. Barriers to exercise
2. Exercise adherence factors
3. Exercise adherence strategies and activty

Barriers to exercise

When planning a training programme, it is important to consider potential barriers to training, which might cause the athlete to avoid or discontinue their training regime.

Potential barriers could be caused by personal circumstances or social influences. Some of these barriers may include:

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• Access to facilities
  • In some areas it may be difficult to get to the facilities at a particular time of day. E.g. if the bus route has been cancelled or if it unsafe to walk after a certain hour. The key way to get around this is to build in training sessions at home where possible such as circuit training to avoid it becoming a barrier.
  • You may have limited access to facilities based on the opening times. E.g. if your working hours are from 9:00am to 5:00pm and the facilities' opening hours are from 9:00am to 5:00pm, there will be a conflict of hours.
  • One way to overcome this barrier is to discuss your working hours with your manager and see if you can work flexible hours.

• Time
  • You may think that you do not have enough time to exercise due to lifestyle, work or education commitments.
  • One way to overcome this barrier is to create a weekly plan to see where exercise opportunities may fit in. Maybe some things could be swapped around?

• Motivation
  • It is important that the activities being implemented are fun and engaging, to ensure that the athlete does not become bored and unmotivated. For example, completing the same training programme every day without variation for 10 weeks continuously.
  • One way to overcome this barrier is to discuss with the athlete the activities that they most enjoy and to keep focussed on the overall aim of the programme. The programme needs to be varied and include lots of different activities and realistic challenges to keep the athlete motivated.

• Cost
  • One barrier to exercise may be the cost involved in completing the activity. For example, the cost of equipment or gym membership. However, it is important to remember that many activities can be completed for little or no cost.
  • Leisure centres and specialised gyms are very expensive and often require you to sign up for a annual subscription. However, remember that you can make the most of the outdoors by going on runs and walks which are totally free!