Objectives:

To understand the professional strategies used to promote and adherence to the physical activity practice among older women.

Methodology:

Qualitative study with a feminist socio-critical approach and gender perspective through three focus groups and two in-depth interviews. Twenty-six primary care professionals and fitness instructor participated (54% nurses). Interpretative content analysis and use of the MAXQDA-18 software.

Results:

Two categories and seven subcategories emerged. Professionals defined the link between physical activity and older women based on the gender stereotypes they perceived to have been historically and culturally constructed focusing mainly on the role of caregivers and social identity among equals. They use strategies to encourage physical activity practice based on communication, experimentation, personalisation, enhancing community networks and their empowerment.

Conclusions:

Current older women present a link with physical activity marked by traditional gender stereotypes that are more distant from physical benefits but closer to social and identity interests. Participants draw on these women’s experiences of self-care awareness through physical activity and socialisation. These findings, which link physical activity with female stereotypes of peer socialisation as well as responsibility and care for one’s own health, can help practitioners to achieve older women’s satisfaction and adherence with the practice.

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