SIGNIFYING THE PRACTICE OF WALKING IN THE ‘HEALTH IN MOVEMENT’ PROJECT

• Main Authors: Cristina Feix Leichtweis, Maria Aparecida Baggio, Alacoque Lorenzini Erdmann
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Paraná 2011-09-01
• Series: Cogitare Enfermagem
• Subjects: Nursing; Walking; Exercise; Health promotion; Health assistance
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.5380/ce.v16i3.21577

This qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study aims to understand the meanings of the practice of walking for the participants of the ‘Health in Movement’ project in the municipality of Bombinhas in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Ten subjects participated, of both sexes, between 46 and 70 years of age. The data was taken from a semi-structured questionnaire and field notes which, interpreted through content analysis, generated four categories: Meanings of the practice of walking; Motivation for the practice of walking; Benefits of the practice of walking and Interruption of the practice of walking. The meanings attributed to the practice of walking are related to the search for a more healthy lifestyle, which is associated with physical,, mental and social well-being, motivating and conditioning the subjects to living, being and feeling healthier. The principle reasons which led people to walking and the intention to reverse their sedentarism were the occurrence of illness and the necessity for treatment and/or rehabilitation.