A phenomenological Study on Participation Experience of group exercise program for Patients with Parkinson`s Disease

The purpose of the present study was to understand group exercise participation experience of patients with Parkinson``s disease. The qualitative data on group exercise participation experiences of six participants was acquired through in-depth interviews, participant observation and field note, using the phenomenological method. As a result, 82 meaningful statements were obtained from participants`` exercise participation experience, as being categorized into 12 themes and 4 categories: (1) exercise perception, (2) difficulty in participating in an exercise program, (3) exercise-social aspect, and (4) exercise experience. Participants perceived the importance of exercise as a treatment option, which would substantially enhance their health condition. Additionally, there was co-existence of perception of both exercise constraints and exercise constraints negotiation due to perceived benefit of exercise. they also experience more difficulty when participating in exercise by oneself. Group exercise program could provide opportunities for communication between participants, however, they also distrust community of participants. Finally, participants participated in the exercise program actively and as a result they experienced positive change in their psychological and physical health.ope