Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Community Exercise Experiences after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

ABSTRACT

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health concern due to its growing incidence and resulting long-term or lifelong impairments. Exercise is a non-stigmatising approach proposed to alleviate the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional consequences after TBI. We used Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore the exercise experiences of seven individuals living with a severe TBI, 5–31 years after rehabilitation. We engaged in semi-structured interviews with the participants and we used IPA to explore their post-TBI exercise experiences outside of the clinical setting. Based on our analysis, we found three themes encompassed how TBI-related impairments affected the participants’ abilities, self-perceptions, and perspectives on life. The participants also identified optimal environments for exercise participation, as well as perceived physical, social, and psychological effects of exercise. Future recommendations include developing community-based exercise programmes to assist with social reintegration and exploring the full range of benefits obtainable from exercise after a TBI.

KEYWORDS:

• Traumatic brain injury
• community-based exercise
• interpretative phenomenological analysis
• participation
• social reintegration

Acknowledgments

This thesis would not have been possible without the contributions of the Association Québécoise des Traumatisés Crâniens and the seven individuals living with a severe TBI who so generously and enthusiastically participated in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Enrico L. Quilico

Enrico L. Quilico is now a Ph.D. Student in the Rehabilitation Sciences Institute at the University of Toronto. Stemming from this study, which he completed as a master’s student at McGill University, he initiated a community-based physical activity program for adults with moderate-severe traumatic brain injury. Through a participatory and peer-assisted approach, his current research involves the co-creation, implementation, and evaluation of that program.

William J. Harvey

William J. Harvey is an Associate Professor of Adapted Physical Activity at McGill University with expertise in the areas of self-determination, self-regulation, the recovery model and physical activity participation of people with disabilities. Dr. Harvey is currently the director of the Choices in Health, Action, Motivation, Pedagogy and Skills Research Laboratory at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute.

Jeffrey G. Caron

Jeffrey G. Caron is an Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences at Université de Montréal. His research program focuses on better understanding psychosocial aspects of sport-related concussions. In particular, he investigates the dissemination of concussion information to the members of the sport community and strategies to assist athletes during their recovery and return to sport, school, and daily life.

Gordon A. Bloom

Gordon A. Bloom is a Full Professor of Sport Psychology at McGill University with expertise in the areas of coaching, athlete leadership, and the psychological and social factors that affect and improve recovery from concussions. Dr. Bloom is currently the director of the McGill Sport Psychology Research Laboratory (https://www.mcgill.ca/sportpsych/).