Older Adults' Perceptions of Returning to Exercise Classes During COVID-19

Following the end of Virginia's COVID-19 Stay-at-Home order, fitness and wellness centers reopened during Virginia's Phase 2 Reopening plan, adhering to state-mandated safety guidelines. Older adults who had previously participated in the fitness centers' supervised exercise classes had to make health-conscious decisions on whether to return to the fitness centers or not. The purpose of this study was to explore older adults' perceptions regarding the return to in-person water-based group exercise classes at fitness centers. Eleven older adults (10 female and 1 male; 69.0 +/- 6.6 years) were recruited 4-5 months after the initiation of the Phase 2 Reopening plan. Participants completed semi-structured interviews, which were transcribed and analyzed to identify emergent themes. Four themes emerged: increased excitement and motivation, benefits of return, benefits outweigh risks of COVID-19, and barriers to return. Despite COVID-19 risks and barriers including class size and availability, participants expressed increased motivation with return and cited social, physical, and mental health benefits specific to in-person exercise classes. Results highlight factors that influenced older adults' decision to return to supervised group exercise classes and support the need for strategies to promote physical activity participation during future waves of COVID-19 or other health crises.