Experiences of recreational running among persons with visual impairment (VI) in Singapore

Abstract

Little research has been done on physical activity (PA) and exercise among people with visual impairments (VI) in Singapore. Among the limited research, it is known that people living with sensory impairments in Singapore were more likely to engage in insufficient PA than their peers. The purpose of this study is to explore the experiences of recreational running as a form of PA among individuals with VI in Singapore. The 6 participants identified were individuals with VI who engaged in recreational running for at least 60 minutes in a week. This study adopts an exploratory-qualitative case study design using a thematic analysis methodology. Qualitative data was collected through one-to-one semi-structured interviews that were audio-taped, transcribed, and analysed following a 6-step thematic analysis guide (Braun & Clarke, 2012). An interpretive inductive approach using semantic themes within an essentialist/realist paradigm was adopted for this study. Interview questions served to induce descriptive anecdotes that illustrates the unique experiences of each participant, with the hope to gain insight and understanding to the recreational running scene among people with VI in Singapore.