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

Spinal Cord Injury Mental Health Rehabilitation

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.

Study Duration

9 weeks

Participants

14 adults with chronic SCI

Evidence Level

RCT secondary analysis

Key Findings

1
The number of physical activity barriers reported by adults with SCI decreased significantly during a counselling intervention.
2
Intrapersonal barriers (e.g., lack of motivation, low self-efficacy) were the most frequently reported and showed the greatest reductions over time.
3
The coding method used in this study can be generalized to other settings and impairment groups.

Research Summary

This study developed a coding method to track physical activity barriers in adults with SCI undergoing a behavioral intervention. The results showed a significant decrease in reported barriers during the intervention, particularly in intrapersonal factors. The dynamic barrier tracking methods could also be used to improve intervention implementation and evaluation.

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

1
The study did not assess the perceived impact of the barriers.
2
The relatively small sample size precluded repeated measures analyses across all nine sessions.
3
The sample consisted of participants involved in a single intervention programme.

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