BACKGROUND/AIMS
This study aimed to determine exercise barriers in older individuals and to examine their relationship with physical activity, sleep, and fatigue.
MATERIAL and METHODS
A total of 100 older individuals aged more than 65 years who were staying in a private nursing home and elderly care center were involved in this study. The sociodemographic information of the individuals and the used scales were recorded through face-to-face interviews held by a physiotherapist. Their exercise barriers, physical activity levels, sleep conditions, and fatigue were evaluated by the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Fatigue Severity Scale.
RESULTS
The mean age of older individuals was 71.32±6.33 years. There were significant positive and low relationships between exercise barriers in older individuals and the PSQI’s sleep quality and day dysfunction owing to sleepiness (DAYDYS) subparameters, the PSQI total score and fatigue. Furthermore, significant negative and low relationships were found between the PASE(Leisure activity) and sleep duration, sleep quality, PSQI(MEDS), PSQI(Total), and fatigue severity, between the PASE(Home activity) and PSQI(Total) score, and between the PASE(Work activity) and sleep duration, sleep latency, and fatigue.
CONCLUSION
The study results suggest that conditions such as sleep quality and fatigue can be considered an exercise barrier. Regular exercise training planned for older individuals individually or as a group will improve sleep quality and provide improvement in their fatigue level. It is crucial to plan and implement in particular personal exercise and physical activity programs and lifestyle modifications, physiotherapy rehabilitation, and energy conservation techniques for sleep quality to maintain and improve the health of older individuals.
Keywords: Older, exercise barriers, physical activity, sleep, fatigue