Movement perceived as chores or a source of joy: a phenomenological-hermeneutic study of physical activity and health

ABSTRACT

Physical activity has become the most documented and acknowledged health advice in relation to both staying healthy and regaining health both physically and mentally. Thus, physical activity in relation to spinal cord injury, low back pain and heart disease is respectively means to regain bodily function, avoid or reduce pain and early death.

A second analysis of three studies with a phenomenological-hermeneutic approach building on Ricoeur’s philosophy on how people understand themselves and their world through narrative configurations revealed that physical activity had different meanings to people. This revealed that the meanings of physical activity could range from movements being unpleasant, maybe even painful to movements being a source of joy. This caused participants (1) to engage in movement as a source of joy, (2) to overcome the bodily struggle to do their chores, and maybe feel better as a result or (3) to minimize bodily functions equivalent to a functional daily life. Illustrated by 10 different approaches this provides knowledge about driving forces for health professional support. As joy and passion are the strongest driving forces to physical activity, this highlights the importance of supporting people to find a kind of physical activity that they like.

KEYWORDS:

• Low back pain
• heart disease
• narration
• rehabilitation
• physical activity
• phenomology-hermeneutic
• Ricoeur
• spinal cord injury

Acknowledgments

I thank my mentors, supervisors and collaborators for their contributions and I am grateful to the participants for sharing their stories and perspective.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sanne Angel

Sanne Angel: is Professor in Nursing with focus on recovery during rehabilitation. From a hermeneutic phenomenological perspective, the specific interest is on narratives as means to understand self and life. With this existential approach patient’s situation and challenges are addressed as well as the professional support.