A Case Study of Barriers to Using Public Sports Gyms during the Weekday Daytime

Abstract

   For the purpose of acquiring new users of public sports gyms during the weekday daytime, this study aimed to explore the barriers to using gyms. A questionnaire survey was conducted at a public sports complex with a gym. The subjects included participants in weekly sports and fitness lesson programs who had no experience using gyms (NO-EXPERIENCE, n=300) and those who were nonusers with experience using gyms (NONUSER, n=149). To clarify the characteristics of the subjects, regular gym users during weekday daytime were set as a comparison group (USER, n=83). The percentages of females in the NO-EXPERIENCE, NONUSER, and USER groups were 46%, 91%, and 37% (significantly low) respectively; 60 years of age or older: 46%, 52%, and 42%; those who were very inactive in daily life: 5% (significantly low), 12%, and 13%. Regarding the important reasons for doing sports and exercise, comparing NO-EXPERIENCE and NOUSER to USER, the percentage of “maintaining/improving physical fitness” (78%, 76%, 55%), “relieving stress” (45%, 49%, 17%) and “pleasure in the spare time” (28%, 30%, 10%) were significantly higher, but “maintaining/improving strength and endurance” (54%, 48%, 53%) was not significant. Regarding the barriers to using gyms, comparing NO-EXPERIENCE to NOUSER, the percentage of “somehow hesitant” (42% to 21%) and “not interested” (19% to 3%) were significantly higher, and that of “congestion” (24% to 47%) was significantly lower. Among the two groups, the percentage of “do not know how to use the equipment” was high (NO-EXPERIENCE: 31%, NONUSER: 29%), and those of “not fun” and “fear of injury” were low (NO-EXPERIENCE: 6%, 2%, NONUSER: 9%, 2%). The dissatisfaction with trainers and the difficulty to continue exercise at a gym alone were found in NONUSER’s comments. Considering these results, it is suggested that a small group lesson program at gyms could be an effective plan.