Individual and Societal Influences on Participation in Physical Activity Following Spinal Cord Injury: A Qualitative Study

The participants' experiences offer insight for therapists regarding physical activity following SCI and two themes were identified: individual influences, defined as a period of loss of "able identity" and subsequent redefinition of self, and societal influences, which included environmental and attitudinal barriers.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Despite evidence that physical activity, a tool of rehabilitation, affects health and improves functional ability in people following spinal cord injury (SCI), such people are often physically inactive. We used a qualitative method to explore the experiences of individuals with SCI during participation in physical activity. SUBJECTS: The participants were 8 adults (5 male, 3 female), ranging from active to inactive, who were 2 to 27 years post-rehabilitation following SCI (paraplegic). METHODS: We used semistructured ethnographic interviews to explore barriers and enablers to participation in physical activity following SCI. Emerging themes were derived from the participants' experiences. RESULTS: Two themes were identified: (1) individual influences, defined as a period of loss of "able identity" and subsequent redefinition of self in which participation in physical activity may be a vehicle or an outcome, and (2) societal influences, which included environmental and attitudinal barriers. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The participants' experiences offer insight for therapists regarding physical activity following SCI.