Seniors Say the `Darndest' Things about Exercise: Quotable Quotes that Stimulate Applied Gerontology

This review article highlights unusual narrative elements spoken by older people as they present their perspective on and involvement in exercise, sports, and physical activity. Drawn from a number of studies, the voices of elders are assembled here as quotable quotes or statements that challenge contemporary understanding and meaning. Just as elderly respondents are wondering what kind of research is going on in applied gerontology, researchers are perplexed when some elders say `the darndest things' about their health, lifestyles, and physical activity. Overall, the review serves as a collection of learnings that may help other applied gerontologists by (a) sharing some insights and challenges of doing qualitative research with elders, (b) exploring how older people make sense of the role of physical activity in their lives, and (c) showing how interpretive approaches can enrich current understanding about the lifestyles and life meaning of older adults.