This study aimed to explore barriers and facilitators of post-injury physical activity and to identify opportunities to optimise post-injury physical activity.
A qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with people aged ≥ 18 years who had experienced an injury (of any type) 3-12 months previously, followed by a focus group of physiotherapists who had experience treating people post-injury. The interviews and focus group were analysed thematically.
Individual interviews were undertaken with twenty people who had experienced injury; four physiotherapists took part in the focus group. Participants noted the importance of social support, the accessibility of physical activity options, health system and health professional influences, and aspects of the built environment. Opportunities for optimising post-injury physical activity included specific suggestions to improve social support and social connection post-injury such as through physical activity classes, consideration of a ‘buddy’ system, and aspects such as community gardens and night classes. Health system and health professional influences highlighted the benefits of health professionals such as physiotherapists specifically outlining the physical activity options an individual could engage in following their injury, scaffolding activities they could do, addressing fear of injury/re-injury and encouraging people in setting post-injury physical activity goals. Opportunities for physiotherapists to advocate for broader changes in community and environmental aspects were also identified.
This study has identified a wide range of opportunities for physiotherapists to consider incorporating into their practice to optimise post-injury physical activity.
Physiotherapists have the opportunity to play a key role in optimising post-injury physical activity and and and there are a range of aspects identified in this study that may help to facilitate this in their practice.
Injury
Facilitators
