Article

OBJECTIVE: To analyse barriers to, and facilitators of, sports participation
among people with physical disabilities after rehabilitation and to compare
differences between inactive and active participants regarding these experienced
barriers and facilitators. METHODS: Participants were 1,223 adults (mean age 51.6
years, standard deviation 15.1 years) treated in the Rehabilitation Centre of the
University Medical Center Groningen, who completed a questionnaire. The
questionnaire consisted of a self-constructed questionnaire regarding barriers
and facilitators. RESULTS:
Fifty-eight percent of the participants were active in
sports after their rehabilitation. Younger age and a higher level of education
were positively associated with sports participation, whereas using assistive
devices and experiencing environmental barriers were negatively associated.
Facilitators of sports participation were health, fun and increasing physical
strength, and advice from rehabilitation professionals. CONCLUSION:
Rehabilitation professionals should emphasize the health benefits of, and
enjoyment from, sports participation for people with physical disabilities. They
should repeatedly remind people with physical disabilities to stay/become active
after completing their rehabilitation programme. Rehabilitation professionals
should also provide information about strategies to reduce environmental barriers
to sports participation, which could help people using assistive devices to
overcome these barriers.

Langue : ANGLAIS