Understanding Exercise Adherence: Challenges and Strategies

1. Exercise Science Motivation & Adherence of Clients

2. Motivation & Adherence Why is it so HARD to stay consistent with an exercise program?!

3. Motivation & Adherence Societal Statistics: • 1950 – below 50% of the population valued exercise • 1950 – rigorous exercise was considered unhealthy for children • Apprx 30 percent of American adults report regular leisure-time physical activity • About 9% of the 30% of Americans that report regular leisure-time physical activity perform that activity vigorous enough to elicit a training effect.

4. Motivation & Adherence Societal Statistics cont… • About 400,000 deaths per year in the United States are due to poor diet and physical inactivity. • Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer in America. In 2004, 871,517 Americans died of CVD, accounting for over 36 percent of all deaths. • Surveys show that 24 percent of Americans age 18 or older are not active. 

5. Motivation & Adherence Societal Statistics cont… • Surveys show that 24 percent of Americans age 18 or older are not active.  • In 2005, 60 percent of male high school students and 48.3 percent of female high school students were enrolled in PE classes but only 37.1 percent of males and 29.0 percent of females attended classes daily.  • 62% of adults do not engage in any vigorous leisure-time physical activity • 24% of adults engage in vigorous leisure-time physical activity 3 or more times per week

6. Motivation & Adherence Data are reported from 36 participating states from 1988–2005. The proportion of the U.S. population that reported no leisure-time physical activity decreased from about 31% in 1989 to about 29% in 1992, then decreased to 25% in 2005.

7. Motivation & Adherence Societal Statistics cont… • In Utah 20% of the population do NO leisure-time physical activity • 50% drop out rate by the end of the 1st month of those beginning an exercise program • Exercise adherence decreases with age • Within the 6 months 50% of ALL cardiac patients drop out of their rehab • 50% of the information out in the public is misinformation What you are up against!!! Just so you know….

8. Motivation & Adherence How Can you develop or enhance a person’s Motivation & Adherence to an Exercise Program?!!! • Personal Factors • Age • Education • Physical Status • Health • Smoking • Overweight • Etc… • Past Experiences • Ability to Adapt (overcome obstacles)

9. Motivation & Adherence How Can you develop or enhance a person’s Motivation & Adherence to an Exercise Program?!!! • Program Factors • Time • Convenience • Expense • Duration • Intensity (difficulty) • Organized (professional) • Varied

10. Motivation & Adherence How Can you develop or enhance a person’s Motivation & Adherence to an Exercise Program?!!! • Environmental Factors • Clean • General Ambiance (feel) • Staff • Clientele

11. Motivation & Adherence Qualities of an Effective Personal Trainer • Dependable • Punctual • Prepared • Professional • Dedicated • Responsible • Caring • Role Model

12. Motivation & Adherence “People are not going to care how much you know…until they know how much you Care!”

13. Motivation & Adherence

14. Motivation & Adherence 3 Rules of Personal Training (teaching) • Show them that you love them! • Show me Don’t Tell me! • Always Teach them something NEW!

15. Motivation & Adherence “Motivating a Client to adhere to an exercise program is going to be one of the hardest task you will be involved in as a personal trainer!”