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Considering how athletic identity assists adjustment to spinal cord injury: a qualitative study
C Hawkins1, P Coffee2, A Soundy1
1Department of Physiotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Objectives:
To establish how sport, and access to an athletic identity, has been used when adjusting to a spinal cord injury.
Design:
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
Setting:
Private athletic club.
Participants:
Eight (six males and two females) athletes from a wheelchair badminton club participated in the study. The individuals had finished rehabilitation, and were aged between 20 and 50 years.
Main Outcome Measures:
A single semi-structured interview was undertaken with each participant.
Results:
Following the thematic analysis, two final themes were presented: (1) adjustment and paradox of chronic illness; and (2) the role and value of an athletic identity.
Conclusions:
Badminton provided participants with an opportunity to continue and develop a positive athletic identity. Identity may be used as a factor that can promote recovery, and is considered as a way to encourage and maintain positive long-term adjustment to disability.
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