Article

The purpose of this article is to develop an evidence-based resource for
knowing and communicating the complexities involved for both males and females in
implementing and sustaining a physically active lifestyle shortly after spinal
cord injury (SCI). METHODS: Synthesizing a set of qualitative and quantitative
studies with over 500 spinal cord injured people, the article represents research
utilizing the genre of ethnographic creative non-fiction. This genre of
representation holds enormous potential for researchers in terms of disseminating
their findings to diverse audiences beyond the academy, and having real impact.
RESULTS: The ethnographic creative non-fictions show together for the first time
the barriers, determinants, benefits, trajectories, emotions, fears, preferred
methods and messengers for delivering important physical activity information to
men and women with a SCI. CONCLUSION: The article contributes to knowledge by
showing the embodied complexities involved when in rehabilitation for both males
and females in implementing and sustaining a physically active lifestyle shortly
after SCI. It also makes a contribution to practice by providing researchers,
health care professionals and disability user-groups with a theory and evidence
based resource to assist in informing, teaching and enabling people living with
SCI to initiate and maintain a physically active lifestyle. Stories may be a
highly effective tool to communicate with and to influence spinal cord injured
people's activity. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The findings of this research
showed the many benefits and barriers to developing and sustaining a physically
active lifestyle shortly after spinal cord injury. The preferred methods and
messengers for delivering physical activity information as well as the activity
types, intensities and durations of physical activity for men and women were also
shown. Within rehabilitation, spinal cord injured people need to be offered
accessible knowledge about how to implement and sustain a physically active
lifestyle over the life course. Stories may serve as a unique and powerful means
to achieve this.

Langue : ANGLAIS