Article

Both New Zealand and Sweden have health and disability policies that promote
recreational exercise within society for people with disability. Despite these
policies, levels of physical activity by people with disability in these
countries are low. Physiotherapists are equipped to assist people with disabling
conditions into physical activity. This qualitative study explored the
perspectives and experiences of physiotherapists in New Zealand and Sweden toward
promoting physically active recreation for adults with chronic neurological
conditions. Nine physiotherapists who worked with adults with neurological
disability in a range of long-term rehabilitation and community (home) health
services were interviewed and the data analysed for themes.
The physiotherapists
described innovative and resourceful expertise to assist patients to be
physically active. However, they perceived a lack of support for their work from
within the health system and a lack of knowledge of disability issues within the
recreational arena, both of which they perceived hindered their promotion of
physical activity for people with neurological disability. Physiotherapists feel
unable to fully support health and disability policies for the promotion of
physically active recreation for people with neurological conditions, because of
perceived constraints from within the recreational arena and their own health
systems. If these constraints were addressed, then physiotherapists could be
better agents to promote physical activity for people with neurological
conditions.

Langue : ANGLAIS