title: Stress, internal resources and functioning in a person with spinal cord disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Spinal cord lesion due to injury or disease (SCD) has a severe impact on the level of functioning, results in body function impairments, causes restrictions in everyday life, and stress. This stress experience can have an additional negative impact on well-being and health of persons with SCD. Stress reduction is therefore an important aim in order to achieve and maintain health in SCD. Strengthening internal resources of a person can support this endeavor.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the role of internal resources for stress reduction as rehabilitation target in the context of interdisciplinary clinical rehabilitation of SCD using ICF-based rehabilitation management tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single Case Study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strengthening internal resources contributed to stress reduction in the rehabilitation of a person with SCD. Active involvement in decision taking increased the patient's perceived self-determination and reduced stress. Impairments in urination function remained a major stressor and negatively affected the patient's self-esteem. ICF-based documentation tools highlighted the role of internal resources, stress and functioning in rehabilitation management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Internal resources should be strengthened when aiming at stress reduction in a patient with SCD. ICF-based documentation tools support this undertaking.
authors.affiliation: Swiss Paraplegic Research (SPF), Nottwil, Switzerland. claudio.peter@paranet.ch
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peter
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.forename: Alarcos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cieza
authors.forename: Szilvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geyh
mesh_terms: D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D055815:Young Adult