‘I’m glad I can walk, but sometimes it’s so challenging that it’s an inconvenience to myself and others’: physical activity experiences among individuals with spinal cord injury who ambulate

ABSTRACT Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) participation involves two dimensions: quantity and quality. Research has been undertaken to explore strategies for increasing the quantity of LTPA among ambulators with spinal cord injury (SCI). Yet, no studies have been conducted to examine the quality of LTPA participation among ambulators with SCI, which may be important for well-being, health, and maintaining participation. Thus, the purpose of this study was to explore conditions and elements involved in positive and negative quality LTPA experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 ambulators with SCI. Using pragmatism and integrated knowledge translation as guiding approaches, the data were thematically analysed. Following inductive coding, the Quality Participation Framework and the Quality Parasport Participation Framework were employed for deductively coding the elements and conditions associated with LTPA experiences, respectively. Three principal themes were identified which provide broad insights for LTPA among ambulators with SCI: ableism, feeling sidelined, and effects of SCI. These themes capture conditions that fostered a positive or negative quality PA experience, including: three intrapersonal, five social, four programme, and one physical condition(s). Elements identified in the Quality Participation Framework were also related to both positive and negative quality LTPA experiences. This study provides insight on how LTPA is uniquely experienced by ambulators with SCI, including conditions and elements that influence quality participation. Self-determination theory may be useful to inform the design of behavioural interventions due to its alignment with the Quality Participation Framework. Behavioural interventions should employ behaviour change techniques to target conditions and elements of LTPA participation.