Women Living With a Spinal Cord Injury

Perceptions About Their Changed Bodies

Bibliographic Data

ID4643645
AuthorsLisa Chau (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Lenke Hegedus (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Monate Praamsma (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Katey Smith (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Michiko Tsukada (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Karen Yoshida (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada), Rebecca Renwick (0000-0001-9583-0768, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada)
Year2008
Volume18
Issue2
Pages209-221
Publication date2008-02-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueQualitative Health Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1049-7323 • E-ISSN: 1552-7557
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/1049732307312391
PMID18216340
OpenAlexW2124992631
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited20

In this article we illuminate the narratives of women living with a spinal cord injury (SCI) with regard to (a) learning how to live with a changed body and (b) exploring the factors that influence how they feel toward their new bodies. An SCI produces immediate physical impairments resulting in a changed body, which can then have physical, emotional, and social consequences to these women. Through its focus on enhancing the body, physical therapy can help to promote a positive view of the self within the changed body. Our analysis of these women's experiences resulted in a fluid, three-phase framework of learning to live with a changed body that generally moves from (a) discomfort, to (b) moving toward comfort, to (c) comfort. Physical therapy can potentially influence the process of women's gaining comfort with their changed bodies following an SCI. The framework provides a basis for future research on adaptation following SCI

Developmental psychology · Focus group · Narrative · Perception · Psychiatry · Sociology · Spinal cord · Spinal cord injury · Disability Rights and Representation · Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport · Medicine · Psychology · Spinal Cord Injury Research

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