"I needed something to hook me." A narrative study on adherence to Pilates.

INTRODUCTION: Exercise adherence is necessary for achieving long-term benefits. Along with other elements, stories and narratives can play a role in understanding and promoting adherence. The aim of the present study was to explore how stories and narratives may affect adherence to Pilates. METHOD: 8 Pilates practitioners who had been participating in a Pilates program for 6 or more years were interviewed. Data obtained were analysed using thematic narrative analysis, (focusing on the whats of stories) and holistic narrative analysis (examining how narratives acted on adherence). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Results highlight pain, Pilates as a health-related method, and the social relations as characters, plots and scenarios of stories enhancing long-term participation in Pilates. Exercise is medicine and eudaimonic well-being are presented as narratives articulating the coherence to practitioners' adherence. They act for participants subjectivizing their Pilates practice into a serious commitment to health. CONCLUSION: Stories and narratives are relevant to give meaning and sense to the adherence to Pilates. A focus on stories can be added as a strategy to promote adherence to Pilates.

Socio-ecological Barriers to Leisure Time Physical Activity in Spanish Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury: Associations With Sociodemographic Characteristics and Functional Independence.

OBJECTIVE: (1) To assess prevalence and severity of socio-ecological barriers to leisure time physical activity (LTPA) in a sample of adults with spinal cord injury (SCI); (2) to examine the association of these barriers with sociodemographic characteristics and functional independence (FI); and (3) to explore which socio-ecological levels of barriers might be associated with LTPA. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Neurorehabilitation Hospital specialized in SCI. PARTICIPANTS: 207 wheelchair users with SCI living in the community who attended a comprehensive check-up (22.7% women, 47.5±10.7 mean age; N=207). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The short version of the Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments was used to measure socio-ecological barriers to LTPA. The Spinal Cord Independence Measure III was used to measure FI. The Physical Activity Recall Assessment for People with SCI was used to quantify LTPA. Several multiple linear regression models were computed to examine the associations between socio-ecological barriers and sociodemographic factors, LTPA and FI. RESULTS: A high prevalence of barriers to LTPA was found. Seven of these barriers (2 intrapersonal, 3 organizational, and 2 community) were present for >60% of the participants. Intrapersonal and organizational barriers had a higher effect on participants with lower FI and women. Interpersonal barriers were higher for older participants and with lower FI, while community barriers were higher for unemployed participants. Finally, intrapersonal and interpersonal barriers were negatively associated with LTPA, and FI revealed as a moderator of the intrapersonal barriers-LTPA relation. CONCLUSIONS: Given their high prevalence and their association with LTPA, the development of interventions targeting socio-ecological barriers to LTPA in people with SCI becomes crucial. The associations of these barriers with FI and sociodemographic characteristics should also be considered for these interventions to be as specific and effective as possible.

Physical Activity and Accomplishment of Recommendations in University Students with Disabilities: A Longitudinal Study.

University settings are socio-environmental contexts that can reduce health disparities in students with disabilities. Therefore, the aim of this study was twofold: (a) to examine the longitudinal physical activity (PA) changes of Spanish university students with disabilities during a three-year period; and (b) to identify the accomplishment of the World Health Organization's PA recommendations in this period. A three-year follow-up cohort study was conducted on 355 university students with disabilities (172 men, 183 women). The participants completed an electronic survey on PA after which a descriptive analysis, longitudinal (Wilcoxon tests) and cross-sectional pairwise comparisons (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests) were performed on non-normal data. The results show no significant PA changes during the three-year period. The cross-sectional comparisons between the waves presented a reduction in vigorous PA according to sex and similar values by age, origin of disability, and socioeconomic status. A global reduction of 0.6% was found in achieving the recommendations between the waves. We also found an increase of 5.3% in the participants classified as overweight-obese during this period. The findings offered in this study have important implications for university disability care services and sports services. University policies should focus on rethinking PA and sports programs for students with disabilities.

Environmental Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity among University Students with Physical Disability-A Qualitative Study in Spain.

This paper qualitatively examines environmental factors operating as barriers and/or facilitators to participation in physical activity (PA) of people with physical disabilities. Interview data were collected from 27 Spanish university students through the innovative method of two-on-one interviews. Thereafter, data were subject to a flexible thematic analysis. Three themes were constructed: associations; PA practice spaces; and nonhumans. Concepts from different theories were used to generate meaningful interpretations around each theme. Drawing on our results, we offer several reflections and directions. Two key messages can be highlighted. First, environmental barriers and facilitators are context dependent and thus do not precede the circumstances in which they emerge. Second, Spanish universities should work harder to become relevant PA promoting environments for students with physical disability. The knowledge generated in this study is expected to inform the design, implementation and evaluation of programs promoting PA among Spanish university students with physical disability.

Construct validation of the leisure time physical activity questionnaire for people with SCI (LTPAQ-SCI).

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional construct validation study. OBJECTIVES: To test the construct validity of the Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Spinal Cord Injury (LTPAQ-SCI) by examining associations between the scale responses and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in a sample of adults living with spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Three university-based laboratories in Canada. METHODS: Participants were 39 adults (74% male; M age: 42 ± 11 years) with SCI who completed the LTPAQ-SCI and a graded exercise test to volitional exhaustion using an arm-crank ergometer. One-tailed Pearson's correlation coefficients were computed to examine the association between the LTPAQ-SCI measures of mild-, moderate-, heavy-intensity and total minutes per week of LTPA and CRF (peak volume of oxygen consumption [V̇O2peak] and peak power output [POpeak]). RESULTS: Minutes per week of mild-, moderate- and heavy-intensity LTPA and total LTPA were all positively correlated with V̇O2peak. The correlation between minutes per week of mild intensity LTPA and V̇O2peak was small-medium (r = 0.231, p = 0.079) while all other correlations were medium-large (rs ranged from 0.276 to 0.443, ps < 0.05). Correlations between the LTPAQ-SCI variables and POpeak were also positive but small (rs ranged from 0.087 to 0.193, ps > 0.05), except for a medium-sized correlation between heavy-intensity LTPA and POpeak (r = 0.294, p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: People with SCI who report higher levels of LTPA on the LTPAQ-SCI also demonstrate greater levels of CRF, with stronger associations between moderate- and heavy-intensity LTPA and CRF than between mild-intensity LTPA and CRF. These results provide further support for the construct validity of the LTPAQ-SCI as a measure of LTPA among people with SCI.

Gender differences in theory-based predictors of physical activity in university students with disabilities / Diferencias de género en predictores teóricos de la actividad física en alumnado universitario con discapacidad

Abstract University students with disabilities engage in physical activity to a lesser extent than their able-bodied peers, with women reporting less physical activity than men. The present study aimed to examine gender differences in theory-based predictors of physical activity in this population. Spanish university students with different disabilities (n = 1076) completed measures of the Theory of Planned Behaviour constructs and the reduced Spanish version of the Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments. Self-efficacy and controllability were significantly lower in women and gender differences on the barriers predicting controllability were obtained. In conclusion, the present results could be useful in order to implement physical activity behaviour change interventions which differently target men and women with disabilities.

Resumen El alumnado universitario con discapacidad participa en actividad física en menor medida que el alumnado sin discapacidad, reportando las mujeres menor actividad física que los hombres. Este artículo tuvo por objetivo examinar las diferencias de género en predictores teóricos de la actividad física en esta población. Una muestra de alumnado universitario con diferentes discapacidades (n = 1076) completó medidas de los constructos de la teoría de la conducta planeada y la versión reducida en español del instrumento Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments. La autoeficacia y la controlabilidad fueron significativamente menores en las mujeres y se encontraron diferencias de género en las barreras que predijeron la controlabilidad. En conclusión, los presentes resultados pueden ser útiles para desarrollar intervenciones de cambio de comportamiento en la actividad física que aborden de forma diferente a los hombres y las mujeres con discapacidad.

Active Gaming Prevalence and Correlates by Type of Day in Spanish Youth.

BACKGROUND: Active gaming has emerged as a new option to foster physical activity in youth. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of active gaming in adolescents, to determine differences between active and nonactive gamers by type of day, and to examine predictors of being an active gamer. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 3095 Spanish adolescents aged 12 to 18 years who self-reported their involvement in moderate to vigorous physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and active gaming. Those engaging in active gaming for at least 10 minutes per day were considered active gamers. Student's 2-tailed t tests, chi-square test, and binomial logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: About 25.9% of the adolescents were active gamers. They were younger, had higher body mass index, and spent more time on moderate to vigorous physical activity, television viewing, and sedentary video games with computer/console than nonactive gamers. There were more active gamers on weekends than on weekdays. On weekdays, more males than females were active gamers. Adolescents who did not meet sleep time guidelines were more likely to be active gamers on weekdays, whereas on weekends, being a girl, overweight/obese, and having a high socioeconomic status were predictors of being an active gamer. CONCLUSION: Because active gaming may contribute to meeting physical activity guidelines, the present findings could enable better targeting of physical activity promotion programs.

Screen time among Spanish university students with disabilities: a self-organizing maps analysis.

BACKGROUND: Screen time can play a significant role in the health and quality of life of people with disabilities. However, there is a lack of studies on this issue among people with disabilities, and even fewer in the university setting. Thus, the aim of our study was to explore the relationships between screen time, disability grade, body mass index (BMI), physical activity and sociodemographic variables (gender and socioeconomic status) in university students with different disabilities. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 1091 students with disabilities from 55 Spanish universities. Instruments used for data gathering were the Adolescent Sedentary Activity Questionnaire (ASAQ) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). A Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) analysis was carried out to explore the relationships between the variables under study. RESULTS: Participants reported high values in overall screen time (5.45 h per day/week), with computers being the media most used (2.45 h per day/week). The SOM analysis showed slightly higher screen time values in women than men. People with a high disability grade spent less screen time than those with lower disability grade. Contradictory results exist when a group of men with the highest BMI had the highest screen time and the lowest physical activity (PA) while women with low BMI show the highest screen time and PA. CONCLUSIONS: Gender and disability grade played a moderating role in screen time among people with disabilities while BMI and PA do not play such a role.

Predicting physical activity in university students with disabilities: The role of social ecological barriers in the theory of planned behaviour.

BACKGROUND: Even though university students with disabilities are less active than their peers without disabilities, there is scarce knowledge on the predictors of physical activity (PA) in this population. OBJECTIVES: To predict PA in Spanish university students with disabilities using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and to examine the role of social ecological barriers within this theoretical framework. METHODS: Participants (N = 1079; Mean age = 40.12) for this cross-sectional study were recruited through the disability care services of 55 Spanish universities. The TPB constructs were assessed using a questionnaire. The Spanish short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to measure PA and the reduced Spanish version of the Barriers to Physical Activity for People with Mobility Impairments was used to measure social ecological barriers. RESULTS: Two different models were computed through path analysis. Model 1 included the traditional TPB constructs and model 2 added a social ecological barriers variable. In both models, attitudes (ß = 0.152; ß = 0.152), subjective norms (ß = 0.114; ß = 0.115) and self-efficacy (ß = 0.657; ß = 0.659) each predicted PA intentions. PA intentions (ß = 0.118; ß = 0.122), self-efficacy (ß = 0.225; ß = 0.207) and controllability (ß = 0.098; ß = 0.075) predicted PA. In model 2, social ecological barriers predicted PA (ß = 0.099). Regression analyses revealed intrapersonal barriers as a significant predictor of self-efficacy (ß = -0.441). Controllability was predicted by intrapersonal barriers (ß = -0.265), community barriers (ß = -0.100) and organizational barriers (ß = -0.095). CONCLUSIONS: Future PA behaviour change interventions should target intentions, self-efficacy and controllability, since they directly predicted PA. These interventions would benefit from considering social ecological barriers to PA.

Barriers to physical activity in university students with disabilities: Differences by sociodemographic variables.

BACKGROUND: Despite the positive effects of regular physical activity (PA), university students with disabilities are less active than their able-bodied peers, which could be due to the wide range of barriers to PA that these individuals face across all social ecological levels. OBJECTIVE: To identify the barriers to PA experienced by university students with disabilities at the different social ecological levels and to examine the differences in these barriers by sociodemographic variables. METHODS: The reduced Spanish version of the Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments was administered to a sample of 1219 Spanish university students with disabilities. Non-parametric tests were performed to examine the differences in the barriers experienced by sociodemographic variables. RESULTS: The most important barriers were intrapersonal (e.g. fatigue, pain, lack of motivation), followed by organizational ones (e.g. lack of adapted programs, economic cost). At the interpersonal level, the inactivity of friends and family were the main barriers. Potholes in the streets or other public spaces were found to be the most important barriers at the community level. Significant differences were found in barriers by sex, age, disability grade, congenital-acquired disability and disability type. The groups most affected by the barriers were, in general, those with multiple disabilities and higher disability grade. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate the need for PA promotion programs to be implemented for university students with disabilities addressing the most important barriers found at each social ecological level, as well as the differences identified by sociodemographic variables.

[Validation of a short Spanish version of the instrument Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments.] / Validación de una versión reducida en español del instrumento Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments.

OBJECTIVE: To validate a short Spanish version of the instrument Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments (BPAQ-MI), applicable to different types of disability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was administered to 791 university students with disabilities. The factorial structure was validated by confirmatory factor analysis and Spearman correlations were carried out to assess criterion validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. RESULTS: The proposed model showed good adjustment indexes and an excellent internal consistency (α= 0.920). Negative relationships emerged between the experienced barriers and time spent in physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The short Spanish version of the BPAQ-MI proves to be a valid and reliable instrument to identify, from a socio-ecological perspective, the barriers to physical activity experienced by students with disabilities. The results provide valuable information to develop programs to promote physical activity in this group.

OBJETIVO: Validar una versión reducida en español del instrumento Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments (BPAQ-MI), aplicable a diferentes tipos de discapacidad. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: El cuestionario fue aplicado a 791 universitarios con discapacidad. La estructura factorial se validó mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio y, para valorar la validez criterial, se llevaron a cabo correlaciones de Spearman. La fiabilidad se evaluó mediante el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. RESULTADOS: El modelo propuesto reveló buenos índices de ajuste y una excelente consistencia interna (α=0.920). Surgieron relaciones negativas entre las barreras experimentadas y el tiempo de actividad física. CONCLUSIONES: La versión reducida y en español del BPAQ-MI resulta un instrumento válido y fiable para identificar, desde un enfoque socioecológico, las barreras que los estudiantes con discapacidad experimentan para realizar actividad física. Los resultados aportan información valiosa para desarrollar programas de promoción de la actividad física en este colectivo.

Validación de una versión reducida en español del instrumento Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments / Validation of a short Spanish versión of the instrument Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments

Resumen: Objetivo: Validar una versión reducida en español del instrumento Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments (BPAQ-MI), aplicable a diferentes tipos de discapacidad. Material y métodos: El cuestionario fue aplicado a 791 universitarios con discapacidad. La estructura factorial se validó mediante un análisis factorial confirmatorio y, para valorar la validez criterial, se llevaron a cabo correlaciones de Spearman. La fiabilidad se evaluó mediante el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Resultados: El modelo propuesto reveló buenos índices de ajuste y una excelente consistencia interna (α=0.920). Surgieron relaciones negativas entre las barreras experimentadas y el tiempo de actividad física. Conclusiones: La versión reducida y en español del BPAQ-MI resulta un instrumento válido y fiable para identificar, desde un enfoque socioecológico, las barreras que los estudiantes con discapacidad experimentan para realizar actividad física. Los resultados aportan información valiosa para desarrollar programas de promoción de la actividad física en este colectivo.

Abstract: Objective: To validate a short Spanish version of the instrument Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments (BPAQ-MI), applicable to different types of disability. Materials and methods: The questionnaire was administered to 791 university students with disabilities. The factorial structure was validated by confirmatory factor analysis and Spearman correlations were carried out to assess criterion validity. Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results: The proposed model showed good adjustment indexes and an excellent internal consistency (α= 0.920). Negative relationships emerged between the experienced barriers and time spent in physical activity. Conclusions: The short Spanish version of the BPAQ-MI proves to be a valid and reliable instrument to identify, from a socio-ecological perspective, the barriers to physical activity experienced by students with disabilities. The results provide valuable information to develop programs to promote physical activity in this group.

FACILITADORES Y BARRERAS PARA LA ACTIVIDAD FÍSICA EN TIEMPO DE OCIO EN ALUMNADO UNIVERSITARIO CON DISCAPACIDAD: UN ESTUDIO CUALITATIVO / FACILITATORS AND BARRIERS TO LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: A QUALITATIVE STUDY / FACILITADORES E BARREIRAS PARA A ATIVIDADE FÍSICA NO LAZER EM ESTUDANTES UNIVERSITÁRIOS COM DEFICIÊNCIA: UM ESTUDO QUALITATIVO

Problema: a pesar de los numerosos beneficios que aporta la actividad física a las personas con discapacidad, la tasa de inactividad en este colectivo es muy elevada. Objetivo: explorar, desde un modelo socio-ecológico, los facilitadores y barreras que influyen en la actividad física en tiempo de ocio del alumnado universitario con discapacidad. Metodología: perspectiva metodológica cualitativa. Se entrevistó en profundidad a cinco alumnos universitarios con discapacidad que realizan actividad física en su tiempo de ocio. Resultados: el análisis categorial de contenido realizado muestra facilitadores como el apoyo social, la motivación o el reconocimiento de beneficios, tanto físicos como psicológicos. También se encuentran barreras como la falta de información, los problemas de accesibilidad o la exclusión social. Conclusión: se subraya la necesidad de potenciar los facilitadores y minimizar las barreras identificadas para conseguir una mayor participación de las personas con discapacidad en actividades físicas.

Problema: apesar dos muitos benefícios da atividade física para as pessoas com deficiência, a taxa de inatividade neste grupo é muito alta. Objetivo: explorar, a partir de um modelo sócio ecológico, facilitadores e barreiras que afetam a atividade física no lazer de estudantes universitários com deficiência. Metodologia: perspectiva metodológica qualitativa. Cinco estudantes universitários com deficiência que praticam atividade física no lazer foram entrevistados em profundidade. Resultados: a análise categorial do conteúdo realizada mostra facilitadores tais como o apoio social, a motivação e o reconhecimento de benefícios físicos e psicológicos. Existem também barreiras como a falta de informação, problemas de acessibilidade ou de exclusão social. Conclusão: se conclui enfatizando a necessidade de reforçar os facilitadores e minimizar as barreiras identificadas para alcançar uma maior participação das pessoas com deficiência em atividades físicas.

Problem: Despite the many benefits of physical activity for people with disabilities, the inactivity rate in this population is very high. Aim: to explore, from a socio-ecological model, facilitators and barriers that affect the leisure time physical activity of university students with disabilities. Methodology: Qualitative methodological approach. Five university students with disabilities who engage in leisure time physical activity has been in-depth interviewed. Results: The categorical content analysis shows facilitators such as social support, motivation, social relations or the recognition of physical and psychological benefits. On the other hand, there are also several barriers such as lack of information, accessibility problems or social exclusion. Conclusion: Study highlight the need to boost facilitators and minimize the barriers identified for greater participation of people with disabilities on physical activity.