title: Barriers and facilitators of sports in children with physical disabilities: a mixed-method study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study explored barriers and facilitators of sports participation of children with physical disabilities from the perspective of the children, their parents and their health professionals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty children and 38 parents completed a questionnaire, and 17 professionals were interviewed in a semi-structured way. Data from the three groups were combined in a mixed-method design, after which the results were triangulated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age (SD) of the children was 14.1 (2.9) years old, 58% were boys. Sixty-seven percent of the children had cerebral palsy and 77% participated in sports after school. Most commonly practiced sports were swimming, cycling and football. Children specifically experienced dependency on others as a barrier, parents did not have enough information about sports facilities, and professionals observed that the family's attitude had influence on the child's sports participation. Facilitators were health benefits, fun and social contacts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sports participation of children with physical disabilities is a complex phenomenon because children, their parents and professionals reported different barriers. Sports participation is more physically challenging for children with severe physical disabilities, as their daily activities already require much energy. However, the psychosocial benefits of sports are applicable to all children with physical disabilities. IMPLICATION FOR REHABILITATION: Perceived barriers seemed to differ for children, parents and health professionals, suggesting that sports participation is a complex phenomenon. Sports might be more physically challenging for children with severe physical disabilities, as their daily activities already take much energy. The psychosocial benefits of sports should be emphasized by rehabilitation professionals when advising children with physical disabilities about sports.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Center for Rehabilitation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen , The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Eva A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
authors.forename: Pieter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
authors.forename: Alida C E
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Blécourt
authors.forename: Jan H B
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Geertzen
authors.forename: Rienk
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D058992:Social Participation; D012944:Social Support; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Children with physical disabilities; mixed-methods design; sports participation