Every so often we profile a member of the Critical Physiotherapy Network to find out a bit more about them and their work. In this 'interview' we asked Wenche Bjorbækmo about the inspiration behind her research. Wenche works in the Institute of Health and Society, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. Wenche's work centres on qualitative research, phenomenology, physiotherapy, movement, experience, exercise, disability and (re)habilitation (you can see a link to her interests, research, teaching and publications here). Wenche has been a member of the CPN almost from its inception, and many of us had the pleasure of meeting her and hearing her present at the In Sickness and In Health … [Read more...] about Interview with Wenche Bjorbækmo
Research update: Lifelong activity, chronic pain, therapatients, children’s embodiment, prostheses and body image
A few interesting new research studies have come out this week that I thought might be of interest. Each of these has some interesting connections with critical physiotherapy. Click on the links in the title of each article for more information. Characteristics of lifelong physically active older adults Sheryl L. Chatfield Abstract Most adults in developed countries fail to accrue enough regular physical activity to prevent or decrease the impact of chronic diseases associated with aging. I conducted semistructured interviews with 16 purposely selected older adults ranging in age from 53 to 70 years to explore the practices of successful lifelong adherents to physical activity. I … [Read more...] about Research update: Lifelong activity, chronic pain, therapatients, children’s embodiment, prostheses and body image
Critical physiotherapy research update
Depression embodied: an ambiguous striving against fading Louise Danielsson and Susanne Rosberg Although depression is associated to physical discomfort, meanings of the body in depression are rarely addressed in clinical research. Drawing on the concept of the lived body, this study explores depression as an embodied phenomenon. Using a hermeneutic phenomenological approach, the analysis of narrative-based interviews with 11 depressed adults discloses a thematic structure of an embodied process of an ambiguous striving against fading. Five subthemes elicit different dimensions of this process, interpreted as disabling or enabling: feeling estranged, feeling confined, feeling … [Read more...] about Critical physiotherapy research update
Critical physiotherapy research update
Lived Observations: Linking the Researcher’s Personal Experiences to Knowledge Development Lisbeth Thoresen & Joakim Öhlén As researchers in palliative care, we recognize how involvement with seriously ill and dying persons has an impact on us. Using one’s own senses, emotional and bodily responses in observations might open intersubjective dimensions of the research topic. The aim of the article is to highlight how phenomenological theories on intersubjectivity can be useful to develop rich and transparent data generation and analysis. We present three field note examples from observation in a hospice ward, which illuminate how researcher awareness of aspects of intersubjectivity can … [Read more...] about Critical physiotherapy research update
Physiotherapy at the intersection between the claims of standardization and individual adaptation
Each day over the next week I'll post up an abstract for a paper being presented by a member of the Critical Physiotherapy Network at the In Sickness and In Health conference in Mallorca in June 2015. (You can find more information on the conference here.) Physiotherapy at the intersection between the claims of standardization and individual adaptation By Wenche S. Bjorbækmo When relating to another person, as in the practicing of physiotherapy, each person touches and impacts on the other. Inter-subjectivity and inter-corporality have been highlighted to be at the core of physiotherapy. At the same time physiotherapists are increasingly exhorted to be accountable, to provide evidence of … [Read more...] about Physiotherapy at the intersection between the claims of standardization and individual adaptation
The Pedagogy of Suffering: Four Fragments
Abstract This paper is a collection of small, formal and informal writings and is part of the early groundwork we have been doing together on the topic of the pedagogy of suffering, a phrase that has certainly given pause to many colleagues we have spoken to. We are trying to understand and articulate how and why suffering can be pedagogical in character and how it is often key to authentic and meaningful acts of teaching and learning. We are exploring threads from both the hermeneutic tradition and from Buddhism, in order to decode our understandable rush to ameliorate suffering at every turn and to consider every instance of it as an error to be avoided at all costs. We also look to these … [Read more...] about The Pedagogy of Suffering: Four Fragments
Connectivity – Stating the obvious?
Thanks to everyone for their comments on connectivity. It's clear that the concept has captured people's imagination. I've had a few queries about the concept that I thought would be worth discussing here. Most revolve around whether connectivity is just stating the obvious - describing very common aspects of practice in high-minded language. So I thought I'd try to address this question here. Is connectivity just stating the obvious? Some people have commented that connectivity, at its basic level, sounds a lot like everyday practice. Connecting people with mediating technologies like other people, things, and new ideas, is something that physiotherapists, OT, doctors and nurses have … [Read more...] about Connectivity – Stating the obvious?
