Background: In the context of population aging, community-dwelling older adults commonly experience insufficient physical activity and difficulty maintaining regular exercise. Zero-time exercise (ZTEx) is lifestyle-based and fragmented, making it easier to integrate into daily life. However, qualitative evidence regarding older adults’ lived experiences and perceptions of ZTEx remains limited.
Objective: To explore the perceptions and daily practice patterns of "Zero-Time Exercise" among community-dwelling older adults, aiming to inform targeted health promotion strategies.
Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted from April to June 2025. Using purposive sampling, 20 older adults were recruited from three communities in Nanchang, China. Data were collected via non-participant observation and semi-structured interviews, then analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method.
Results: Among the 20 elderly participants, 10 were women (50%) and 10 were men (50%), with a mean age of 66.1±3.4 years. Four core themes and twelve sub-themes emerged: adoption motives, exercise patterns, health perceptions, and sustainability challenges. Participants viewed "Zero-Time Exercise" as an accessible, lifestyle-integrated strategy that helps maintain daily functioning, enhances self-efficacy, and supports subjective health management. However, sustained practice was hindered by misconceptions regarding exercise intensity and safety, physical limitations, and a lack of professional guidance.
Conclusion: "Zero-Time Exercise" demonstrates high acceptability and implementation potential among community-dwelling older adults. To ensure long-term adherence, future interventions should prioritize the development of professional guidance systems and community support contexts.
Declarations
Not applicable.
Authors' contributions
Conceptualization, Z.Q. and H.Q.; Methodology, Z.Q. and H.Q..; Data curation, H.Q., X.J., Y.Y. and Z.Y.; Formal analysis, H.Q., X.J., Y.Y. and Z.Y.; Funding acquisition, not applicable; Project administration, not applicable; Resources, not applicable; Supervision, Z.Q.; Validation, Z.Q.; Writing—original draft, H.Q.; Writing—review and editing, Z.Q. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
Ethical approval and consent to participate
This study was conducted with ethical approval from the Ethics Committee of Nanchang University (NCUREC202504005), ensuring the voluntary participation and informed consent of all involved.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.
Competing interests
All authors declare that there are no competing interests
Funding
Not applicable.
Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
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