Browsing by Author "Vermaak, Candace"

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    Bridging the gap from inpatient rehabilitation to sustainable health and wellness in spinal cord injured individuals
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-12) Vermaak, Candace; Ferreira, Suzanne; Terblanche, Elmarie; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Education. Dept. of Sport Science
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Background: A spinal cord injury is a devastating and life changing neurological event that present multiple challenges throughout the life of the affected individual. One of the challenges is being physically active and more specifically healthy living. Physical activity has many benefits and plays an essential role in community reintegration, which is considered the final outcome of the rehabilitation process. In South Africa this outcome is seldom achieved due to the lack of physical activity opportunities. Without regular physical activity the physical gains that were achieved in hospital are easily diminished or lost and this is a major concern as it ultimately affects health and wellness. Objective: To determine the barriers and facilitators to physical activity and whether an intervention designed to reduce the barriers can be successful in promoting health and wellness in people with a spinal cord injury. Design: An experimental research design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies was used to execute the study. Methods: A self-developed research questionnaire was distributed to people with a spinal cord injury in the Western Cape, South Africa in order to identify the barriers to physical activity. The results from the research questionnaire were used to design a 16 week intervention which was implemented in two different environments (formal exercise setting and community based setting) and its success was measured by physical tests, the reintegration to normal living index questionnaire and the research questionnaire. Subjects: Fifty seven people with a spinal cord injury completed the research questionnaire and 16 participants partook in the intervention. Results: In the beginning (pre-intervention) the most important barriers were the environmental barriers and included problems with accessibility and lack of facilities, lack of transport, and the weather. The most reported facilitators were personal, which included a desire to be active, to improve self esteem and because physical activity made them feel good. Based on the results from the research questionnaire the intervention was implemented and showed that the participants from both groups improved their physical abilities (strength, endurance and functional abilities) and their satisfaction with community participation. The barriers that were identified prior to the intervention were also considerably reduced, especially in the community based group. The participants also agreed that physical activity was beneficial and important and that they would like to stay physically active post-intervention. Discussion and Conclusion: People with a spinal cord injury face many barriers in being physically active, however, by reducing the barriers a community based physical activity program can be successful in introducing people with a spinal cord injury to a life of healthy living and wellness. Although some of the environmental and program barriers remained, the personal facilitators that were identified were enough to ensure physical activity adherence.