‘I’m glad I can walk, but sometimes it’s so challenging that it’s an inconvenience to myself and others’: physical activity experiences among individuals with spinal cord injury who ambulate

ABSTRACT

Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation involves two dimensions: quantity and quality. Research has been undertaken to explore strategies for increasing the quantity of LTPA among ambulators with spinal cord injury (SCI). Yet, no studies have been conducted to examine the quality of LTPA participation among ambulators with SCI, which may be important for well-being, health, and maintaining participation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore conditions and elements involved in positive and negative quality LTPA experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 ambulators with SCI. Using pragmatism and integrated knowledge translation as guiding approaches, the data were thematically analysed. Following inductive coding, the Quality Participation Framework and the Quality Parasport Participation Framework were employed for deductively coding the elements and conditions associated with LTPA experiences, respectively. Three principal themes were identified which provide broad insights for LTPA among ambulators with SCI: ableism, feeling sidelined, and effects of SCI. These themes capture conditions that fostered a positive or negative quality PA experience, including: three intrapersonal, five social, four programme, and one physical condition(s). Elements identified in the Quality Participation Framework were also related to both positive and negative quality LTPA experiences. This study provides insight on how LTPA is uniquely experienced by ambulators with SCI, including conditions and elements that influence quality participation. Self-determination theory may be useful to inform the design of behavioural interventions due to its alignment with the Quality Participation Framework. Behavioural interventions should employ behaviour change techniques to target conditions and elements of LTPA participation.

KEYWORDS:

• Quality participation
• exercise
• qualitative research
• sports for persons with disabilities
• disabled persons

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Veronica Allan for her contributions in revising the Methods section on this paper. This work was supported by a SSHRC Doctoral Award and a WorkSafe BC Doctoral Award.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Reichwald Family Southern Medical Program Chair [Chronic Disease Prevention]; WorkSafe BC [Doctoral Research Training Award]; Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [895-2013-1021,Doctoral Fellowship].

Notes on contributors

Sarah Lawrason

Sarah Lawrason is a PhD Candidate in Kinesiology at UBC Okanagan. Her research focuses on enhancing the quantity and quality of physical activity experiences for individuals living with spinal cord injury who ambulate/walk.

Jennifer Tomasone

Jennifer Tomasone is an Assistant Professor at Queen’s University in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies. She engages in innovative and applied research projects that close the gap between physical activity participation research and practice. The goal of her research program is to optimize physical activity participation for Canadians of all abilities.

Kenedy Olsen

Kenedy Olsen is an undergraduate student at UBC Okanagan in Health and Exercise Sciences. She helps conduct research that aims to improve physical activity experiences and reduce pain among individuals living with spinal cord injury.

Kathleen Martin Ginis

Kathleen Martin Ginis is the Director of the UBC Faculty of Medicine Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management and a Professor in the Department of Medicine and School of Health and Exercise Science at UBC. She is also a Principal Investigator for the International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD) and the Chair and Principal Investigator for the Canadian Disability Participation Project. Her primary research focus is physical activity participation in community-dwelling people living with spinal cord injury. In particular, she is interested in how we can use principles of exercise psychology and behavioural science to improve physical activity participation.