Barriers To Physical Activity

Level 2 Exercise, Welfare & Health
Unit 2 – The fitness professional
Lesson 2.5 – Barriers to physical activity

Lesson 2.5 Barriers to physical activity
Step 1 – Introduction
People will give you many reasons why they can't exercise, or need to stop. Some
may be imaginary but others are very real. In either case, you should always take
what your clients say seriously and certainly never argue with them!
In this lesson we'll look at some of the barriers preventing exercise and how you
can help your clients to overcome them.
Before we look in detail at the common types of obstacles to doing physical

activity, consider the barriers that some of your friends and relatives have come
across.
Step 2 – Obstacles to physical activity
So, let's first consider some of the common obstacles to exercise.
What are some of the reasons you've heard people give for not exercising?
Feedback: Some of the barriers to physical activity you may hear from your clients
include:
 Previous bad experience of  Lack of confidence

exercise  Lack of time
 Illness  Lack of money
 Feeling too overweight  Family commitments
 Age  And injury
In the next step we will look at the most common of these in more detail.
Step 3 – Obstacles to physical activity

Here are some of the common types of obstacles to doing physical activity.
Emotional – Lack of confidence of an individual in his or her ability to perform an

exercise can be a barrier to activity. Also, clients who have never been very active
will find it harder to take up exercise as they could feel self-conscious about
starting and feel they will ‘make a fool of themselves’ as they will be out of their
comfort zone.
Physical – For some clients, musculoskeletal ailments, injury or chronic diseases

such as diabetes or osteoarthritis could create an obstacle to activity and may
require additional preparation (e.g. modifying exercises or using different types of
equipment). It’s important to realise that most conditions are helped by increased
physical activity or planned exercise. It may also be that they feel they are too old
or ‘past it’ or just feel too tired to bother.
Availability – There is increasing recognition that environmental factors play an

important role in promoting and supporting physically active lifestyles. Accessibility
May 2015 © Future Fit Training, 2015 Page 1 of 3

and proximity to facilities have been noted as factors that influence physical
activity. The more convenient it is for the client, the more likely they are to get
active. It could also be that a client feels that they cannot afford a gym
membership or that they need special clothing and shoes.
Motivational – Past experiences of exercise can motivate or de-motivate a client

depending on whether it was a good or bad experience. Boredom can also be a
barrier so it's important to implement programmes that the client will enjoy and to
set realistic goals. Keeping sight of the end goal can be a powerful incentive to
continue with the programme. Lack of interest and enjoyment of activities can also
be barriers. Clients may not realise that exercise does not necessarily entail ‘hard’
tasks like jogging and weight training. Activities such as brisk walking, vigorous
household chores and heavy gardening can be more suited to a client’s needs.
Lack of time – Work and family demands can be obstacles to being active,
particularly for women. Women who are employed and have young children are
less likely to exercise than women who do not have children. Lack of priority can
also contribute to a perceived lack of time for some clients.
Step 4 – Dealing with obstacles

Now let’s look at what can be done about some of these obstacles. For instance, if
you have a client who doesn't like going to the gym, what other options can you
offer them?
Feedback: Some other options could include:
 Circuit training
 Exercise to music
 Indoor studio cycling
 And Pilates
Step 5 – Activity Note: this activity can only be completed online.

Why is it important to incorporate your client’s preferences into the programme you
design for them?
 They will see that you take them seriously

 It will use their time more efficiently
 It will add variety to their routine
 They are more likely to keep going
Step 6 – Incentives and rewards

What motivational tools could you use in the form of incentives and rewards to
ensure your client adheres to their programme?

Incentives Rewards
An incentive might be: The rewards a client could give
themselves when a goal is achieved
 Planning a reward for achieving a could be:
goal
 Having a friend to join in the new  Going on that planned holiday
exercise routine or class with  Buying new gym kit or holiday
them clothes
 Looking at a photo of him/herself  Arranging a family outing
and wanting to change their look  And having a massage
 And not wanting to feel out of
breath when going upstairs or
playing with the children
Step 7 – Overcoming fears

Imagine your client is still resistant to the changes they need to make to lead a
healthier lifestyle. Think of one strategy that you could use to overcome their fears,
which would encourage your client to exercise or increase their physical activity
levels, for each of the following:
 Thinking they are too old – Identify an older role model who is healthy
and fit.
 Not having any confidence – Identify something that the client has
achieved already and tie it in with that.
 Lacking in motivation – Set short-, medium- and long-term goals.
 Not having enough time in the day – It is usually the client’s perception of
lack of time that is holding them back. They do not have to commit to an
hour at a time – it could be in two or three blocks of 20 minutes that day.
 No gym facility in their area – It is not essential to get exercise in a gym –
you could go out walking or running with the client or as a personal trainer
you could train the client in their home.
Step 8 – Summary
Some of the most common barriers to exercise are injuries, chronic ailments, lack
of confidence, poor motivation, heavy commitments and the distance from
facilities.
Identify older role models and explain it’s never too late to start.
Tie exercise goals in with other successes that a client has achieved.
Set short-, medium- and long-term goals.
Where time is short, encourage clients to exercise in several shorter blocks of time
rather than one hour-long session.
Identify alternatives to the gym such as walking, running and training in the home.

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Level 2 Exercise, Welfare & Health

Unit 2 – The fitness professional

Lesson 2.5 – Barriers to physical activity

Before we look in detail at the common types of obstacles to doing physical

Step 2 – Obstacles to physical activity

So, let's first consider some of the common obstacles to exercise.

 Previous bad experience of  Lack of confidence

Step 3 – Obstacles to physical activity

Emotional – Lack of confidence of an individual in his or her ability to perform an

Physical – For some clients, musculoskeletal ailments, injury or chronic diseases

Availability – There is increasing recognition that environmental factors play an

May 2015 © Future Fit Training, 2015 Page 1 of 3

Motivational – Past experiences of exercise can motivate or de-motivate a client

Step 4 – Dealing with obstacles

Feedback: Some other options could include:

Step 5 – Activity Note: this activity can only be completed online.

 They will see that you take them seriously

Step 6 – Incentives and rewards

May 2015 © Future Fit Training, 2015 Page 2 of 3

Step 7 – Overcoming fears

Set short-, medium- and long-term goals.

May 2015 © Future Fit Training, 2015 Page 3 of 3

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