Identification of facilitators and barriers to physical activity in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy.

Abstract

To explore facilitators and barriers to participation in physical activity and sport in youth with cerebral palsy (CP). This was a qualitative study involving in-depth focus group interviews with 33 ambulatory youth with CP and their parents. The interviews were conducted until informational redundancy was achieved. Youth with CP and their parents reported personal and environmental facilitators and barriers to participation in physical activity. Seven major themes related to personal and environmental factors were identified. This study suggests that various personal and environmental factors play a key role in determining the extent to which youth with CP participate in physical activity. The facilitators and barriers identified provide important theoretical insights into how and why youth with CP and their parents might change their physical activity behavior.