Background and research questions
People with physical impairments (among others people with spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis) have an increased risk of multimorbidity (e.g. chronic pain, mental illness; Brinkhof et al., 2016). Sport and exercise can lead to both a reduction in these symptoms and an increase in well-being (Hicks et al., 2003; Martin Ginis et al., 2012). However, the physical activity of people with physical disabilities in Switzerland is lower compared to the general population (Gross-Hemmi et al., 2019). Offers adapted to the target group (e.g. accessible halls, sports offers adapted to the needs of the people) can increase sports activity (Declerck et al., 2021). For this reason, the Swiss Paraplegic Association (SPA) has been committed to people with spinal cord injuries and physical disabilities for over 40 years and offers various sports programmes for this target group (https://www.spv.ch/).
People who use a wheelchair (e.g. due to a spinal cord injury or a chronic illness) and are members of the SPA benefit from various SPA services and offers, such as construction, legal and social counselling, as well as from the activities of the individual wheelchair clubs (RSC). Membership also allows people to take part in the programmes offered by the 27 regional wheelchair clubs (sports and exercise groups, cultural and social events). As general participation in the sports programmes offered by the wheelchair clubs is low compared to the actual number of active members, the reasons for this are being investigated as part of a scientific study in collaboration with the SPA.
Participation in sporting leisure activities and organised RSC activities can be influenced by factors at individual (e.g. motivation, attitudes, self-efficacy), team/group (e.g. leader, group constellation and atmosphere) and club level (e.g. available sporting activities, club structures). The following research questions therefore arise from the research background explained above:
- What factors (at individual, group and club level) play a role in access for active members of the SPA who do not regularly take part in RSC exercise and sports programmes?
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What factors (at individual, group and club level) play a role in ensuring that active SPA members who regularly take part in RSC sports programmes are involved in (a) group(s) and an RSC in the long term?
Methodological approach
In order to answer the above-mentioned research questions, a quantitative online survey of all SPA members and group leaders in the 27 regional wheelchair clubs will be conducted. In addition, the sports managers of the individual wheelchair clubs will be surveyed by means of telephone interviews in order to obtain information at club level.
Aim
The aim of this research project is to provide the SNI with recommendations for action to increase the number of participants in the programmes/training courses offered by the various wheelchair clubs.
Literature
Brinkhof, M., Al-Khodairy, A., Eriks-Hoogland, I., Fekete, C., Hinrichs, T., Hund-Georgiadis, M., Meier, S., Scheel-Sailer, A., Schubert, M., & Reinhardt, J. (2016). Health conditions in people with spinal cord injury: Contemporary evidence from a population-based community survey in Switzerland. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 48(2), 197–209. https://doi.org/10.2340/16501977-2039
Declerck, L., Stoquart, G., Lejeune, T., Vanderthommen, M., & Kaux, J.-F. (2021). Barriers to development and expansion of adaptive physical activity and sports for individuals with a physical disability in sports clubs and centres. Science & Sports, 36(3), 202–209. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scispo.2020.12.002
Gross-Hemmi, M. H., Post, M. W. M., Bienert, S., Chamberlain, J. D., Hug, K., Jor-dan, X., Scheel-Sailer, A., Weiss, A., Brinkhof, M. W. G., Jordan, X., Léger, B., Baumberger, M., Peter Gmünder, H., Curt, A., Schubert, M., Hund-Georgiadis, M., Hug, K., Troger, T., Joggi, D., … Thyrian, C. (2019). Participation in people living with spinal cord injury in Switzerland: Degree and associated factors. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 100(10), 1894–1906. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2019.03.018
Hicks, A. L., Martin, K. A., Ditor, D. S., Latimer, A. E., Craven, C., Bugaresti, J., & McCartney, N. (2003). Long-term exercise training in persons with spinal cord injury: Effects on strength, arm ergometry performance and psychological well-being. Spinal Cord, 41(1), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.sc.3101389
Martin Ginis, K. A., Jörgensen, S., & Stapleton, J. (2012). Exercise and sport for persons with spinal cord injury. PM&R, 4(11), 894–900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pmrj.2012.08.006
