Exploring motivations to be active among amputees: a phenomenological approach to leisure time physical activity

ABSTRACT

Purpose

People with disabilities are less active and experience increased burden of disease compared to those without disabilities. Leisure time physical activity (LTPA) participation is strongly related to improved health in all populations. Despite this, research with amputees focuses heavily on prosthetic design and function, leaving amputees an under-represented population in LTPA and motivation research. This study explored the lived experiences of motivation to engage in LTPA among amputees.

Method

Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, influenced by understandings of embodiment and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), was used. Six people with lower extremity, acquired amputations created a photo-diary of their motivations to be active and participated in two in-depth interviews each.

Results

Study findings suggest motivations to be active among amputees are primarily influenced by personal relationships. Barriers, facilitators, and processes to be active provided insight into how LTPA participation may be affected by more than motivation. Embodiment was experienced as bodily integration of the prosthesis.

Conclusions

There is evidence that the relationship between motivation and participation is not direct, but influenced by facilitators, barriers, and processes to be active. The results suggest strategies to increase activity among amputees by emphasizing LTPA with others, improving the built environment, and ensuring prosthesis fit.

KEYWORDS:

• Amputee
• physical activity
• motivation
• self-determination theory
• interpretative phenomenology

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the participants who contributed their lived experiences to this study. A note on terminology: Participants modelled person first terminology when disability identity was expressed. Therefore, person with disabilities (PwD) is used throughout the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical considerations

This study, and all procedures involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the University of Maryland, College Park (IRB Approval 1,599,600-5). Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study prior to their participation. Information that was provided both verbally and in writing included: the aim of the study; the voluntary nature of participation; the confidential handling of participant photographs, what participants said and any background information they provided. Given the time lag between signing the consent form and interviews, interview participants were reminded, before the start of the interview, of the voluntary nature of their participation and provided the opportunity to ask questions before recording started. All quotes have been de-identified and only pseudonyms are used throughout this study. Participants signed separate informed consent and photo-release forms.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Sara H. Olsen

Sara H. Olsen, MS, MPH, started her career in the Navy as a Salvage and Diving Officer and Explosive Ordnance Officer. Upon transitioning from active duty to the reserve force, she cofounded Crossroads Adaptive Athletic Alliance to meet the needs of wounded veterans. Her research is focused on improving access to and inclusion for disabled people in sports and fitness environments. She now works as a Programme Specialist to ensure disability rights are upheld as a primary component of civil rights.

Elizabeth M. Aparicio

Elizabeth M. Aparicio, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Behavioral and Community Health department in the University of Maryland School of Public Health. She directs the Community THRIVES Lab, a research group that conducts Community-engaged Transformative Health Research at the Intersection of family Violence, Early childhood, and adolescent Sexual health intervention. She is also the deputy director for clinical training and intervention for the University of Maryland Prevention Research Center.

Paul T. Jaeger

Paul T. Jaeger, PhD, JD is a Professor of the College of Information Studies and Co-Director of the Museum Scholarship and Material Culture programme at the University of Maryland. He studies the impacts of law and policy on information access and accessibility, with a focus on human rights and civil rights. He is Co-Editor of the journals Library Quarterly and Including Disability, as well as Co-Chair of the Disability Summit. In 2014, he received the Library Journal/ALISE Excellence in Teaching Award.

Donna E. Howard

Donna E. Howard, DrPH, MPH, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Behavioral and Community Health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Her research has been centred broadly, for the past 25 years, on community-based empowerment efforts, principally among minoritized and poor populations. For the past 20 years, she has focused on adolescent risk and protective behaviours associated with interpersonal violence and teen dating relationships. Dr. Howard has expertise in qualitative methods and leadership experience with developing, implementing, analysing and publishing qualitative research addressing adolescent violence and its psychosocial correlates.