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Current injury or disability as a barrier to being more physically active
1School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood VIC 3125, Australia. cfinch@deakin.edu.au
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|April 27, 2001
Summary
Current injury or disability prevents 20% of people from being more active. This barrier is significantly linked to older age and higher body mass index, especially in older, overweight individuals.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Physical activity is crucial for overall health.
- Injuries and disabilities can limit physical activity participation.
- Understanding barriers to physical activity is essential for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of injury or disability as a barrier to physical activity.
- To identify factors associated with reporting injury or disability as a barrier.
Main Methods:
- Data from an urban population survey on physical activity barriers were analyzed.
- Multivariate logistic regression examined associations between demographics, BMI, physical activity levels, and injury/disability as a barrier.
Main Results:
- Twenty percent of respondents cited current injury or disability as a reason for inactivity.
- Increasing age and higher body mass index were significantly associated with reporting this barrier.
- Age and body mass index were the only independent predictors in multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Age and body mass index are independently associated with injury or disability as a barrier to physical activity.
- Interventions promoting physical activity in older and overweight populations should emphasize safe, non-aggravating activities.