title: Considering how athletic identity assists adjustment to spinal cord injury: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish how sport, and access to an athletic identity, has been used when adjusting to a spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private athletic club.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight (six males and two females) athletes from a wheelchair badminton club participated in the study. The individuals had finished rehabilitation, and were aged between 20 and 50 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single semi-structured interview was undertaken with each participant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the thematic analysis, two final themes were presented: (1) adjustment and paradox of chronic illness; and (2) the role and value of an athletic identity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Badminton provided participants with an opportunity to continue and develop a positive athletic identity. Identity may be used as a factor that can promote recovery, and is considered as a way to encourage and maintain positive long-term adjustment to disability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coffee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: A.A.Soundy@bham.ac.uk.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soundy
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012933:Social Identification; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D014910:Wheelchairs
keywords: Adjustment; Identity; Qualitative; Sport