title: Low- and High-Resistance Exercise: Long-Term Adherence and Motivation among Older Adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In terms of motivation and long-term adherence, low-resistance exercise might be more suitable for older adults than high-resistance exercise. However, more data are needed to support this claim.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to investigate the effect of low- and high-resistance exercise protocols on long-term adherence and motivation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was designed as an exploratory 24-week follow-up of a randomized 12-week resistance training intervention in older adults. Participants were free to decide whether or not they continued resistance training at their own expense following the intervention. Fifty-six older adults were randomly assigned to HIGH [2 × 10-15 repetitions at 80% of one repetition maximum (1RM)], LOW (1 × 80-100 repetitions at 20% of 1RM), or LOW+ (1 × 60 repetitions at 20% of 1RM + 1 × 10-20 repetitions at 40% 1RM). Motivation, self-efficacy and the perceived barriers for continuing resistance exercise were measured after cessation of each supervised intervention and at follow-up, while long-term adherence was probed retrospectively at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants reported high levels of self-determined motivation before, during, and after the supervised intervention, with no differences between groups (p > 0.05). Nevertheless, only few participants continued strength training after the intervention: 17% in HIGH, 21% in LOW+, and 11% in LOW (p > 0.05). The most commonly reported barriers for continuing resistance exercise were perceived lack of time (46%), being more interested in other physical activities (40%), seasonal reasons (40%), and financial cost (28%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest no difference in long-term adherence after the end of a supervised exercise intervention at high or low external resistances. Long-term adherence was limited despite high levels of self-determined motivation during the interventions. These findings highlight the importance of further research on developing strategies to overcome barriers of older adults to adhere to resistance exercise without supervision.
authors.affiliation: Physical Activity, Sports and Health Research Group, Department of Kinesiology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Roie
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bautmans
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Coudyzer
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Boen
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Delecluse
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010349:Patient Compliance; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D057181:Pleasure; D055070:Resistance Training; D020377:Self Efficacy