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.


METHODS
Qualitative study with both cross-sectional and retrospective questions.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons with a spinal cord injury experience important barriers to physical activity, particularly on the ICF component Body Functions and Structure.
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Maaike
M
Vissers
Rita
R
van den Berg-Emons
Tebbe
T
Sluis
Michael
M
Bergen
Henk
H
Stam
Hans
H
Bussmann
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001107:Architectural Accessibility; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012944:Social Support; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires