Å være ung med cerebral parese - erfaringer med og tanker om fysisk aktivitet og deltagelse. En kvalitativ fokusgruppestudie

Objective: Adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) often need lifelong habilitation and continuous physical treatment. Developing abilities through training of motor function may enhance their physical skills and increase their participation in the community. Physiotherapy plays an important role in this habilitation. Aims: To investigate the experiences of a young population with CP with respect to the topic of physical activity and participation, from their perspective. How do they perceive physiotherapy and physical exercise? Which stories do they have about participation in typical environments young people frequently attend? Material and method: Eight young persons with CP participated in the study, a qualitative method with a focus group design. The discussion was audio-recorded and transcribed. The text was subjected to a qualitative content analysis. Results and discussion: The participants conveyed a diversity of experiences regarding their lives with a disability like CP. The condition demands regular exercise to enhance and maintain motor skills, to avoid deterioration of function, and to achieve better health and a satisfactory quality of life. Issues containing positive and negative experiences attached to physical activity and exercise were expressed. The feeling of being different in a period of life when the importance of being the same as “the others,” is illuminated. The participants also discussed their common experiences of pain, stiffness and fatigue, as well as the enjoyment of mastering activities, particularly amongst peers