Individual's experiences of adjusting to changes in body image after spinal cord injury: a literature review and thematic synthesis

CONCLUSIONS: The physical impacts of SCI, individual's perceptions, relationships and sociocultural discourses influenced body image. Rehabilitation professionals could support adjustment to changes in body image by considering individual, relational and systemic influences. Furthermore, it is important to include an individual's support network within their care as social factors influenced body image experiences. Peer support could promote hope and challenge negative sociocultural beliefs about disability.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONFollowing spinal cord injury (SCI) individuals described a dynamic process of adjustment to changes in their body image, which can include positive and negative body image experiences.Rehabilitation environments and interactions with clinicians can influence individuals' body image experiences.Multidisciplinary interventions which consider sociocultural, relational and individual influences on body image may promote positive body image experiences and the renegotiation of identity after SCI.PMID:37125687 | DOI:10.1080/09638288.2023.2202926
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Source Type: research