BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS FOR THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN OLD AND PHYSICALLY INACTIVE WOMEN

Introduction: the advancing age causes a physical capacity decline in the elderly, increasing the risk of physical inactivity in older ages. Objective: to analyze the perceptions regarding the barriers and facilitators to physical activity. Method: we developed a qualitative study, with 30 elderly women, physically inactive, participants of Companionship Groups registered in the Prefecture of Florianopolis-SC. To collect data, we used the script of the guiding questions of the focus groups and the data was processed by thematic content analysis. Results: the physically inactive elderly women perceived more barriers than facilitators for physical activity. The main barriers were: the physical limitation, unwillingness, excess of family care, inadequate physical exercise, disease, unsafe, marriage and caring for children, never performed physical activities during leisure time, the fear of falling and the increasing age. The main facilitators were: the pleasure of physical activity, socialization, the benefits of physical activity, appropriate exercise, to have company to practice physical activities and the physical activity program of the Prefecture of Florianopolis-SC. Conclusion: the knowledge of these barriers and facilitators can contribute to the planning of strategies to be applied in interventions with the oldest population of physically inactive, seeking modification of behaviors for the adoption of an active lifestyle, that will provide years of life with better functional capacity, health and independence.