Exercise barrier severity and perseverance of active youth with physical disabilities.

Abstract

The authors investigated perceived exercise and physical activity barriers of active youth with physical disabilities. Research Method/Design: A 46-item exercise barrier instrument was administered to 145 youth (117 boys and 28 girls, 12 to 19 years of age). Using the Rasch model, the authors estimated barrier severity and youths' exercise perseverance. Model-data fit was determined by Infit and Outfit statistics (Ն 0.5 and Յ 1.5). Results: Except for 1 item, the model fit the data well. The most difficult barriers that youth with physical disabilities faced were lack of time and pain or discomfort. The older youth demonstrated higher exercise perseverance than the younger youth. There were no differences in youths' exercise perseverance scores by gender or National Wheelchair Basketball Association classification. Implications: Removing severe barriers should be a part of future exercise and physical activity interventions targeting this population.

Perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity for children with disability: a systematic review

“…Four studies focused on children with physical disability,1 16 25 26one study on children with intellectual disability,27 one study on children with vision impairment,28 seven studies on children with mixed disabilities10 28–34 and one study did not specify the type of disability 6. The authors of seven of the papers were contacted to clarify participant demographic information (n=3), provide further information about the results (n=2) or both (n=2).…”

“…Five studies included only children with disability as participants,1 16 32–34 seven studies included only parents (usually mothers) of children with disability,10 25–27 29–31 one study included both parents and children28 and one study included staff from organisations that work in disability or manage play environments 6. Data were collected in the included studies using interviews,1 6 26 30–32 postal questionnaires,10 25 29 interviewer-assisted questionnaires16 28 33 34 and focus groups 27…”

“…Data were collected in the included studies using interviews,1 6 26 30–32 postal questionnaires,10 25 29 interviewer-assisted questionnaires16 28 33 34 and focus groups 27…”

“…Seven studies used a quantitative research design 10 16 25 28 29 33 34. Overall, the quality of the quantitative studies was not as high as the qualitative studies.…”

“…A full understanding of potential factors that hinder and assist participation is essential for parents, teachers, health professionals and those working in the health, recreation and leisure industries who are involved in the design, organisation and delivery of effective exercise opportunities. This information is also important for clinical intervention programmes that promote physical activity, active recreation, active leisure and exercise for children with disability 5 16…”