Background/Purpose Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health issue that presents specialists with a challenge to implement evidence-based interventions that improve health. One intervention that has been demonstrated to improve health is physical activity (PA). However, individuals with a TBI are largely inactive and do not meet the recommended guidelines of 150 min/week. Therefore, the purpose is to complete focus groups of 3-5 individuals with a TBI who are enrolled in a comprehensive rehabilitation program to understand the barriers faced to being physically active so that strategies can be put in place to help individuals overcome the barriers.
Method 17 participants completed a focus group to discuss the barriers faced to PA participation. A phenomenological approach was adopted and trustworthiness was established through investigator triangulation. A cross-case analysis was completed to identify themes and conceptual patterns.
Analysis/Results The main themes that emerged included (1) the identification of specific personal and environmental barriers, (2), role of the disability as a barrier, and (3) strategies to overcome barriers.
Conclusions Individuals with a brain injury report a variety of personal and environmental barriers such as “Right now, my barrier is my injury, but in the past, it was transportation”. PA specialists can use the results to create effective programs that help individuals strategize to overcome the barriers faced to facilitate the adoption and maintenance of physical activity behaviors.
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