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Attrition and Adherence Rates of Sustained vs. Intermittent Exercise Interventions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Annals of Behavioral Medicine

Abstract

Background

No conclusions have been drawn regarding the relative attrition and adherence rates associated with sustained vs. intermittent exercise programs.

Purpose

The study aims to systematically examine randomized controlled exercise intervention trials that report attrition and/or adherence rates to sustained vs. intermittent aerobic exercise programs.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted, and references from qualifying articles were searched for additional papers.

Results

Fourteen articles met inclusion criteria, capturing 783 (76% female) enrolled and 599 (74% female) retained participants (mean age = 42.3 ± 6.6 years). Study durations ranged from 8 weeks to 18 months (mean duration = 22.7 ± 21.9 weeks). Although results varied, no consistent differences in attrition or adherence rates between sustained and intermittent exercise protocols were revealed.

Conclusions

Given the universally low rate of regular exercise participation and the ongoing problem of adherence to exercise protocols, the field may benefit from randomized controlled trials examining sustained vs. intermittent exercise programs in greater depth.

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Notes

  1. Although often used interchangeably, the terms physical activity and exercise technically describe slightly different concepts: Physical activity is defined as bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure and produces progressive health benefits, whereas exercise is defined as a form of physical activity that is planned, structured, repetitive, and performed with the goal of improving health or fitness [2]. We consistently use the term exercise throughout this review despite the literature’s interchangeable use of the two terms.

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Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SDSU/UCSD Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA

    Sarah Elizabeth Linke M.S., M.P.H.

  2. San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA

    Linda C. Gallo Ph.D.

  3. Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Gregory J. Norman Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Sarah Elizabeth Linke M.S., M.P.H.
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  2. Linda C. Gallo Ph.D.
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  3. Gregory J. Norman Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sarah Elizabeth Linke M.S., M.P.H..

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Linke, S.E., Gallo, L.C. & Norman, G.J. Attrition and Adherence Rates of Sustained vs. Intermittent Exercise Interventions. ann. behav. med. 42, 197–209 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9279-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12160-011-9279-8

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