Barriers to and facilitators of everyday physical activity in persons with a spinal cord injury after discharge from the rehabilitation centre.

OBJECTIVE To determine the most important barriers to and facilitators of the level of everyday physical activity in persons with a spinal cord injury after discharge from the rehabilitation centre. DESIGN Qualitative study with both cross-sectional and retrospective questions. SUBJECTS Thirty-two persons with a spinal cord injury. METHODS Semi-structured interview with questions concerning the current situation (>9 months after discharge) and retrospective questions concerning the period shortly after discharge (=3 months). The interview consisted of 10 topic categories assumed to have an impact on the level of everyday physical activity and covering the main parts of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model. RESULTS In the current situation, the most important barriers were problems with accessibility of stores and buildings, physical health problems and mental health problems. Shortly after discharge, the most important barriers were emotional distress, problems with self-care, and mental health problems. The most frequently mentioned facilitators were preparation in the rehabilitation centre with respect to daily activities and social activities and stimulation to be physically active. CONCLUSION Persons with a spinal cord injury experience important barriers to physical activity, particularly on the ICF component Body Functions and Structure.

[1]  Amy Rauworth,et al.  Physical activity participation among persons with disabilities: barriers and facilitators. , 2004, American journal of preventive medicine.

[2]  Wahman Kerstin,et al.  What promotes physical activity after spinal cord injury? An interview study from a patient perspective , 2006, Disability and rehabilitation.

[3]  J. Groothoff,et al.  Functional outcome after spinal cord injury: activities and participation , 2003 .

[4]  J. Sallis,et al.  The determinants of physical activity and exercise. , 1985, Public health reports.

[5]  N. Sherwood,et al.  The behavioral determinants of exercise: implications for physical activity interventions. , 2000, Annual review of nutrition.

[6]  R. Shephard,et al.  Spinal Cord Injury, Exercise and Quality of Life , 1995, Sports medicine.

[7]  G. Savić,et al.  Long-term survival in spinal cord injury: a fifty year investigation , 1998, Spinal Cord.

[8]  H. P. van der Ploeg,et al.  Physical activity for people with a disability: a conceptual model. , 2004, Sports medicine.

[9]  I. Dyck,et al.  Individual and societal influences on participation in physical activity following spinal cord injury: a qualitative study. , 2004, Physical therapy.

[10]  J. Rimmer.  Use of the ICF in identifying factors that impact participation in physical activity/rehabilitation among people with disabilities , 2006, Disability and rehabilitation.

[11]  P I Terasaki,et al.  Long-term survival. , 1988, Clinical transplants.

[12]  B. Popkin,et al.  Determinants of adolescent physical activity and inactivity patterns. , 2000, Pediatrics.

[13]  E C Huskisson,et al.  Vertical or horizontal visual analogue scales. , 1979, Annals of the rheumatic diseases.

[14]  D. Warburton,et al.  Health benefits of physical activity: the evidence , 2006, Canadian Medical Association Journal.

[15]  G. Savić,et al.  Sports, recreation and employment following spinal cord injury–a pilot study , 2000, Spinal Cord.

[16]  A. Buchholz,et al.  Physical activity levels are low in free-living adults with chronic paraplegia. , 2003, Obesity research.

[17]  B. Cardinal,et al.  Factors influencing the exercise behavior of adults with physical disabilities. , 2004, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[18]  B. Giles-Corti,et al.  The relative influence of individual, social and physical environment determinants of physical activity. , 2002, Social science & medicine.

[19]  R. Malina,et al.  Factors Affecting Levels of Physical Activity in Adults , 2002, Sports medicine.

[20]  R. Shephard,et al.  The cognitive profile of those who intend to exercise but do not. , 1986, Public health reports.

[21]  J. Bussmann,et al.  Restoration of the level of everyday physical activity during spinal cord in-jury rehabilitation; preliminary results. , 2004 .

[22]  J. Rimmer,et al.  Barriers to exercise in African American women with physical disabilities. , 2000, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[23]  G. Savić,et al.  The relationship between neurological level of injury and symptomatic cardiovascular disease risk in the aging spinal injured , 2001, Spinal Cord.

[24]  P. Manns,et al.  Determining the relation between quality of life, handicap, fitness, and physical activity for persons with spinal cord injury. , 1999, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[25]  W. Mechelen,et al.  Counselling increases physical activity behaviour nine weeks after rehabilitation , 2006, British Journal of Sports Medicine.