Barreiras percebidas para a prática de exercícios físicos por pessoas idosas atendidas na Unidade Docente Assistencial da Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Brasil

The objective was to verify the perceived barriers to the practice of physical exercises (PE) by elderly people attended at the Teaching Assistance Unit of the Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil. The sample consisted of 35 people, aged between 60 and 84 years. The instrument for data collection was the Questionnaire on Barriers to the Practice of Physical Activities for Elderly People. The results showed that the barriers to practicing PE were: lack of security (57.14%); lack of money (60%); lack of adequate facilities - close to home (68.57%); lack of company (28.57%); feeling out of body standards (34.29%); feeling unmotivated (34.29%); having some illness or injury (37.14%); considering their health to be poor (37.14%); feeling without energy (37.14%). It was concluded that there are several barriers that prevent the practice of PE, with lack of security being the most cited. Public policies are needed to provide older people with safe environments with adequate facilities for practicing PE.