A dynamic analysis of physical activity barriers experienced by adults with spinal cord injury
Spinal Cord Series and Cases, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-022-00504-y · Published: March 8, 2022
Simple Explanation
This study explores the barriers that adults with spinal cord injuries face when trying to be physically active. It looks at how these barriers change over time during a counselling intervention. The study used a social-ecological model to categorize barriers into intrapersonal, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy levels. The research found that the number of barriers reported by participants decreased significantly during the intervention, especially intrapersonal barriers like lack of motivation.
Key Findings
- 1The number of physical activity barriers reported by adults with SCI decreased significantly during a counselling intervention.
- 2Intrapersonal barriers (e.g., lack of motivation, low self-efficacy) were the most frequently reported and showed the greatest reductions over time.
- 3The coding method used in this study can be generalized to other settings and impairment groups.
Research Summary
Practical Implications
Improved Intervention Design
Understanding barrier dynamics can help tailor physical activity interventions to address specific needs at different points in the intervention.
Enhanced Behavioral Counseling
Dynamic barrier tracking allows counselors to align salient barriers with appropriate behavior change techniques.
Generalizable Methods
The coding methods developed can be applied in various settings and populations to study physical activity barriers.
Study Limitations
- 1The study did not assess the perceived impact of the barriers.
- 2The relatively small sample size precluded repeated measures analyses across all nine sessions.
- 3The sample consisted of participants involved in a single intervention programme.