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Abstract Background Adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) show a reduced physical activity (PA). Currently there are no interventions for adolescents with CP in this critical life phase that optimise and maintain the individuals' physical activity in the long term. To develop such a program it is important to fully understand the factors that influence physical activity behaviours in adolescents with CP. The aim of this study is to explore what makes it easy or hard for adolescents with CP to be and to become physically active. Methods/Design A qualitative research method is chosen to allow adolescents to voice their own opinion. Because we will investigate the lived experiences this study has a phenomenological approach. Thirty ambulatory and non-ambulatory adolescents (aged 10-18 years) with CP, classified as level I to IV on the Gross Motor Function Classification System and 30 parents of adolescents with CP will be invited to participate in one of the 6 focus groups or an individual interview. Therapists from all Children's Treatment Centres in Ontario, Canada, will be asked to fill in a survey. Focus groups will be audio- and videotaped and will approximately take 1.5 hours. The focus groups will be conducted by a facilitator and an assistant. In preparation of the focus groups, participants will fill in a demographic form with additional questions on physical activity. The information gathered from these questions and recent research on barriers and facilitators to physical activity will be used as a starting point for the content of the focus groups. Recordings of the focus groups will be transcribed and a content analysis approach will be used to code the transcripts. A preliminary summary of the coded data will be shared with the participants before themes will be refined. Discussion This study will help us gain insight and understanding of the participants' experiences and perspectives in PA, which can be of great importance when planning programs aimed at helping them to stay or to become physically active.

This article reports on the findings of a qualitative study about the experiences and perceptions of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to social participation. A phenomenological approach was used to interview 10 adolescents with CP, 17 to 20 years of age, selected using purposeful sampling. An iterative process of data collection and analysis resulted in four themes about social participation. The themes of "experience, barriers, and supports", and "tradeoffs" supported the current view of participation as a dynamic interaction between person and environment. The fourth theme of "making choices" described the unique challenges facing adolescents with CP in terms of deciding what was most important and meaningful to them now and in their future. Health care professionals can support adolescents as they develop the capacity to make their own decisions during the transition to adult living by ensuring that assessments and interventions address social participation. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)

The purpose of this study was to describe how youth with cerebral palsy experience mobility in their daily lives using a phenomenological approach. The participants were 10 youth with cerebral palsy, 17 to 20 years of age, selected using purposeful sampling with maximum variation strategies. A total of 14 interviews were completed. Transcripts were analyzed for key concepts and themes. Credibility was established through triangulation of researchers and member checking. Participants viewed mobility as important for "self-sufficiency". Youth who walked and also used wheeled mobility spoke of "making choices". "Safety" and "efficiency" were important considerations when making choices. Some participants had mobility "preferences" at home that may not be safe, practical, or socially appropriate at school or in the community. Youth spoke of constantly "adapting to situations" that often reflected a lack of control over the environment. Youth indicated the need for "constantly planning ahead" to go places and do things. Most participants were dependent on others for transportation and expressed "dissatisfaction with public transportation". Safe and efficient mobility to enable participation in daily activities appears to be the primary concern of youth with cerebral palsy. (Contains 1 figure and 4 tables.)

This article reports on the findings of a qualitative study about the experiences and perceptions of adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) in relation to social participation. A phenomenological approach was used to interview 10 adolescents with CP, 17 to 20 years of age, selected using purposeful sampling. An iterative process of data collection and analysis resulted in four themes about social participation. The themes of experience, barriers, and supports, and tradeoffs supported the current view of participation as a dynamic interaction between person and environment. The fourth theme of making choices described the unique challenges facing adolescents with CP in terms of deciding what was most important and meaningful to them now and in their future. Health care professionals can support adolescents as they develop the capacity to make their own decisions during the transition to adult living by ensuring that assessments and interventions address social participation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]