Barriers and Facilitators to Long-Term Adherence in an Ongoing, Supervised, Gym-Based Exercise Program Among Adults With Chronic Conditions in Regional Australia

Successful long-term adherence was facilitated by accredited exercise physiologists who invested time in establishing shared goals with participants and maintained regular, quality interactions. This professional support created accountability and enabled progressive program modification based on individual needs and progress. Professionals should focus on these to build effective therapeutic relationships in gyms-based exercise programs. Having a space for oneself and peer motivation enable participation, while role and family commitments can hinder it. Significance/Implications: Findings highlight specific strategies for exercise professionals to enhance long-term program adherence: building strong therapeutic relationships through regular support and individualized attention, creating safe and supportive exercise environments, and implementing flexible scheduling to accommodate family commitments. The identified role of peer support and professional supervision provides a framework for designing sustainable exercise programs in regional community settings. Exercise physiologists should focus on fostering these elements while addressing practical barriers to participation. This study received ethical clearance from The Monash Health Medical Research Ethics Committee; Number: 58571.