Collaborative practice to support community-based physical activity for young people with childhood-onset physical disability: A scoping review.

AIM: To identify evidence of implementation strategies that promote collaborative practice between healthcare and community providers of physical activity to support participation in community-based physical activity for young people with childhood-onset physical disability.

METHOD: Five databases were searched between January 2000 and October 2025. Studies were screened for inclusion following eligibility criteria for population (childhood-onset physical disability, including but not limited to, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, traumatic brain injury, skeletal abnormality, brachial plexus injury, obstetric brachial plexus palsy, limb loss, neuromuscular disorder, multiple sclerosis, and genetic disorders; aged 10-24 years), concept (implementation strategies that promote collaborative practice), and community context (gyms, swimming pools, sports clubs, indoor and outdoor recreation centres). Data on study details, strategies, and population characteristics were extracted and synthesized inductively and deductively, and mapped to the Family of Participation Related Constructs (fPRC) framework and the stages of participation.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies reporting eight interventions were included. Nine strategies were identified and mapped to the fPRC. The environmental dimension of accommodation in the fPRC framework was most frequently addressed in strategies to facilitate participation. Strategies frequently lacked sufficient detail for replication.

INTERPRETATION: The results emphasize a need for improved reporting of implementation strategies that promote collaborative practice when describing evidence-based practices to support community participation in physical activity for young people with childhood-onset physical disability.