Exercise Experiences and Barriers Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Abstract

PurposeTo explore exercise experiences and beliefs related to barriers among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).MethodsSeventy-four participants were recruited from a hospital, an independent living center, and online support groups. The Exercise Experiences and Spinal Cord Injury (EESCI) instrument included three scales to assess beliefs and experiences related to exercise participation.ResultsOur study found 80% of participants do not currently engage in competitive exercise or sports, however 48.6% do participate in noncompetitive sports. Most participants found it difficult to gather up motivation and allocate time to exercise. Also, 52% of participants who visited fitness centers reported no availability of accessible exercise equipment and access for wheelchair users. T-tests and ANOVA analyses were conducted to compare group means between demographic variables. Results indicated the perceived barriers among persons with SCI regarding lack of personal resources/finances, beliefs about fitness center accessibility regarding equipment, and perceived negative attitudes held by fitness center employees and customers.ConclusionRecommendations regarding how rehabilitation counselors can best work with clients on these issues including advocacy, counseling strategies, and future research directions are discussed.