Promoting physical activity for individuals with neurological disability: indications for practice

Abstract

Purpose: This study explored processes that influenced involvement in recreational exercise for individuals with neurological disability, to identify strategies to promote physical activity for health and well-being in this population. Method: Nineteen participants (11 males and eight females), aged 20–71 years, with a range of neurological conditions and functional limitations, were recruited in one large metropolitan area in New Zealand. Individual semi-structured interviews explored participants’ views, perceptions, and experiences of undertaking recreational exercise. Data were analysed for themes. Results: For some individuals, recreational exercise is undertaken for its physical, psychological, or social benefits, despite the physical activity itself feeling relatively unsatisfactory. In contrast, individuals who are able to undertake their preferred choice of recreational exercise experience intense satisfaction. This motivates self-maintenance of physical activity, even for those individuals who require carer support or assistance to do so. Conclusions: This study has identified that there can be two forms of involvement in recreational exercise that allows individuals with neurological disability to become more physically active. The information could be further developed and tested in intervention studies to provide strategies for health professionals to facilitate engagement in physical activity for people with neurological disability.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Strategies to encourage physical activity should promote the individual’s own choice of involvement in recreational exercise.

• Access to an individual’s own choice of recreational exercise leads to self-sufficiency for it to be maintained.

Keywords::

• Neurological disability
• physical activity
• recreational exercise

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank and acknowledge the participants for their time and interest in this study, and the disability organisations and health professionals who supported this study in assisting with recruitment of the participants.

Declaration of Interest: The first author was supported for this study by a Disability Placement Programme award from the New Zealand Health Research Council.