Implicit and explicit motor imagery ability after SCI: Moving the elbow makes the difference.

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) causes dramatic sensorimotor deficits that restrict both activity and participation. Restoring activity and participation requires extensive upper limb rehabilitation focusing elbow and wrist movements, which can include motor imagery. Yet, it remains unclear whether MI ability is impaired or spared after SCI. We investigated implicit and explicit MI ability in individuals with C6 or C7 SCI (SCIC6 and SCIC7 groups), as well as in age- and gender-matched controls without SCI. Inspired by previous studies, implicit MI evaluations involved hand laterality judgments, hand orientation judgments (HOJT) and hand-object interaction judgments. Explicit MI evaluations involved mental chronometry assessments of physically possible or impossible movements due to the paralysis of upper limb muscles in both groups of participants with SCI. HOJT was the paradigm in which implicit MI ability profiles differed the most between groups, particularly in the SCIC6 group who had impaired elbow movements in the horizontal plane. MI ability profiles were similar between groups for explicit MI evaluations, but reflected task familiarity with higher durations in the case of unfamiliar movements in controls or attempt to perform movements which were no longer possible in persons with SCI. Present results, obtained from a homogeneous population of individuals with SCI, suggest that people with long-term SCI rely on embodied cognitive motor strategies, similar to controls. Differences found in behavioral response pattern during implicit MI mirrored the actual motor deficit, particularly during tasks that involved internal representations of affected body parts.

Effects of a coach-guided videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy intervention combined with psychoeducation on distressed individuals living with spinal cord injury: a preliminary mixed-methods study.

PURPOSE: This study examined effects of coach-guided videoconferencing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) accompanied by psychoeducation on distressed individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and explored participants' experiences in the intervention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten people with SCI participated in 8 individual videoconferencing sessions delivered by trained coaches. Data using self-reported questionnaires and individual interviews was collected at pretest and posttest and analyzing using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests and interpretative phenomenological analysis (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04670406). RESULTS: Statistically significant improvements were found in depression, anxiety, stress, grief, engagement in meaningful activities, and self-compassion with medium to large effect sizes. There was no significant change in quality of life, resilience, and ACT processes. Participants gained a new way of thinking by: being aware of thoughts and emotions; exploring perceptions of others; and focusing on the present. Also, the intervention equipped participants to deal with challenges by: improving coping with SCI-related conditions; practicing self-compassion, acceptance, and meditation; and acquiring skills of value-based decision making and committed action. CONCLUSIONS: Findings contribute to the limited evidence as the first study that measured effects of videoconferencing ACT on people with SCI. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to measure efficacy of internet-delivered ACT for people with SCI.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONGuided videoconferencing ACT may reduce depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, and grief and increase engagement in meaningful activities and self-compassion in people with SCI.Professionals may consider ACT as a supportive or adjunct service for people with SCI who experience psychological distress.

Exploring sport participation in individuals with spinal cord injury: A qualitative thematic synthesis.

CONTEXT: Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are susceptible to various physical, psychological, and social challenges. Sport is an activity that may holistically address these concerns. No existing research provides an overview of the current landscape of SCI-specific sport participation. OBJECTIVE: To synthesize the findings of qualitative studies exploring the perceptions of people with SCI participating in sport, in relation to physical, psychological, and social health. METHODS: This thematic synthesis included studies published in APA PsycInfo, CINAHL, Embase, Emcare, Medline, and PubMed. Eligible articles studied adults who had a SCI for ≥12 months and explored experiences following ≥3 months of sport participation using qualitative or mixed-methods. Articles were excluded if participants with SCI composed less than one-third of the study sample. From 8473 unique titles and abstracts screened, 47 articles underwent full-text review and 14 articles were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to critically appraise the 13 qualitative studies and one mixed-methods study. RESULTS: The overarching theme was that sport facilitates the progression to living an enriching life with SCI. Four sub-themes were identified within this theme: adjusting to SCI, factors influencing sport initiation, outcomes resulting from sport participation, and reshaping views of SCI. Participants detailed many benefits of sport, including improved fitness, independence, confidence, and sense of community. Beyond the participants themselves, sport helped reshape views of SCI by breaking stereotypes and inspiring others. CONCLUSION: Sport can play a crucial role in facilitating the progression to living an enriching life following SCI.

The role of mindfulness in quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life is considered the most overarching psychosocial adaptation outcome following the rehabilitation of persons with spinal cord injury. Literature suggests that the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury is determined by many personal and psychological factors, including mindfulness. This study aimed to identify the direct and indirect effect of mindfulness on the quality of life of persons living with spinal cord injury. METHODS: Participants consisted of 231 members of three spinal cord injury organizations in the United States: United Spinal Association, North American Spinal Cord Injury Consortium, and Paralyzed Veterans of America-Wisconsin Chapter. The participants completed a set of standardized self-report questionnaires in an online Qualtrics survey. A hierarchical regression analysis was performed to identify the contribution of mindfulness to quality of life, controlling for sociodemographic and injury-related factors. A serial mediation analysis was performed to examine the indirect effect of mindfulness on quality of life. RESULTS: In the hierarchical regression analysis, sociodemographic and injury-related factors (i.e., age, gender, race, marital status, education, employment, level and completeness of injury, comorbidities, frequency of hospitalization, pain intensity, and functional limitation) and mindfulness explained 59% variance on quality of life of the participants with spinal cord injury. Mindfulness uniquely contributed to the higher quality of life above and beyond sociodemographic and injury-related variables. In the serial mediation analysis, pain and functional limitation did not significantly mediate the relationship between mindfulness and quality of life. However, the indirect effects of mindfulness on functional limitation and quality of life through pain were significant. CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the vital role of mindfulness in improving the quality of life of persons with spinal cord injury. Implications of these findings for future research and clinical practice are discussed.

Os aspectos emocionais do lesado medular frente ao seu diagnóstico / The emotional aspects of the patients in front of the spinal Cord Injury diagnose

Introdução: A Lesão Medular (LM) é uma condição que afeta homens e mulheres, podendo ser traumática ou não, sendo ela grave e incapacitante. Objetivos: Compreender determinadas alterações emocionais para o indivíduo após receber esse diagnóstico. Participantes: 10 pacientes que passaram pelo Centro Estadual de Reabilitação e Readaptação Dr. Henrique Santillo (CRER) e que atualmente estão, ou já estiveram, em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Análise de dados: Análise de Conteúdo de Laurence Bardin. Resultados: Revelaram-se as seguintes categorias relacionadas à lesão medular: humor (subcategoria: irritabilidade), autoestima, tristeza, esperança, reação ao diagnóstico, coping (subcategoria: dificuldade de aceitação do diagnóstico, adaptação e espiritualidade) e dependência do outro. Discussão e considerações finais: Dentro da população pesquisada, os participantes conseguiram desenvolver estratégias de enfrentamento funcionais e adaptativas, sendo a sintomatologia, em sua maioria, reativa

Introduction: Spinal cord injury is a condition that affects men and women, and it can be traumatic or not, being severe and disabling. Objectives: To understand certain emotional changes for the individual after receiving this diagnosis. Participants: 10 patients who went through the Dr. Henrique Santillo Rehabilitation and Readaptation post and who are currently or have been under outpatient follow-up. Data analysis: Content Analysis by Laurence Bardin. Results: The following categories related to spinal cord injury were revealed: mood (subcategory: irritability), self-esteem, sadness, hope, reaction to the diagnosis, coping (subcategory: difficulty in accepting the diagnosis, adaptation and spirituality) and dependence on the other. Discussion and conclusion: Within the researched population, the participants were able to develop functional and adaptive coping strategies, the symptoms being mostly reactive

Effectiveness of spiritual care training for rehabilitation professionals: An exploratory controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Spirituality may play an important role in neurorehabilitation, however research findings indicate that rehabilitation professionals do not feel well equipped to deliver spiritual care. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a spiritual care training program for rehabilitation professionals. METHODS: An exploratory controlled trial was conducted. Participants enrolled in a two-module spiritual care training program. Spiritual care competency was measured with the Spiritual Care Competency Scale. Confidence and comfort levels were measured using the Spiritual Care Competency Scale domains. The Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale assessed participant attitudes and knowledge. Measures were administered three times: pre-program, post-program and six weeks follow-up. RESULTS: The training (n = 41) and control (n = 32) groups comprised rehabilitation professionals working in spinal cord or traumatic brain injury units. No between-group differences were observed on the study variables at the pre-program time point. Multilevel models found that levels of spiritual care competency, confidence, comfort, and ratings on existential spirituality increased significantly for the training group (versus control) post-program (p < 0.05) and these significant differences were maintained at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: A brief spiritual care training program can be effective in increasing levels of self-reported competency, confidence and comfort in delivery of spiritual care for rehabilitation professionals.

Factors that influence the risk of falling after spinal cord injury: a qualitative photo-elicitation study with individuals that use a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility.

INTRODUCTION: Falls are a concern for wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI). Falls can negatively impact the physical and psychological well-being of fallers. To date, the perspectives of wheelchair users with lived experiences of SCI on the contributors to falls has been understudied. Information about factors that influence fall risk would guide the development of effective fall prevention strategies. OBJECTIVES: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influenced the risk of falling as perceived by wheelchair users with SCI. DESIGN: A qualitative study using photo-elicitation interviews. SETTING: A Canadian SCI rehabilitation hospital and the participants' home/community environments. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve wheelchair users living in the community with chronic SCI. METHODS: Participants captured photographs of situations, places or things that they perceived increased and decreased their risk of falling. Semistructured photo-elicitation interviews were conducted to discuss the content of the photographs and explore perceptions of fall risk factors. A hybrid thematic analysis and the Biological, Behavioural, Social, Economic, and Environmental model were used as a framework to organise/synthesise the data. RESULTS: Overall, the findings indicated that the risk of falling was individualised, complex and dynamic to each person's life situation. Four main themes were revealed in our analysis: (1) Falls and fall risk caused by multiple interacting factors; (2) Dynamic nature of fall risk; (3) Single factors were targeted to reduce falls and fall-related injuries; and (4) Fall prevention experiences and priorities. CONCLUSIONS: Each wheelchair user encountered numerous fall risk factors in their everyday lives. Information from this study can be used to set priorities for fall prevention. Fall prevention initiatives should consider a wheelchair user's fall risks in a holistic manner, acknowledging that a person's current situation, as well as anticipating their fall risks and fall prevention needs, will change over time.

Association of mindfulness to resilience, anxiety, and depressive symptoms after spinal cord injury-a correlational study.

STUDY DESIGN: Online survey of individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). OBJECTIVE: This pilot study examined associations between mindfulness factors, resilience, and levels of depression and anxiety after SCI. SETTING: Community-based; United States. METHODS: A survey was posted online and shared with individuals with recent SCI (≤5 years). RESULTS: Thirty-four individuals responded to the survey. The Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ) measures mindfulness with the following subscales: observing, describing, acting with awareness, nonjudging of inner experience, and nonreactivity of inner experience. Nonjudgment of inner experience was significantly associated with depression (ß = -0.74, p = 0.007) and anxiety (ß = -0.60, p = 0.01). Nonreactivity to inner experience was significantly associated with anxiety (ß = -0.57, p = 0.007) and resilience (ß = 0.55, p = 0.004); and there was a trend with depression (ß = -0.45, p = 0.07). Higher resilience was significantly associated with less anxiety (r = -0.62, p = 0.04) and less depression (r = -0.75, p < 0.001). Depression and anxiety were significantly correlated (r = 0.84, p < 0.001). When comparing those who are employed to those who are not, they differed significantly in terms of anxiety (t(32) = 2.53, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that factors of mindfulness, specifically the practice of acting nonjudgmentally and nonreactively to one's inner experience, may act as protective factors against depression and anxiety following SCI. These preliminary data support the literature that individuals with lower resilience are more susceptible to depression following SCI. Interventions aimed at maximizing mental well-being following SCI may benefit from incorporating these factors of mindfulness practice.

Rehabilitation health professionals' perceptions of spirituality and spiritual care: The results of an online survey.

BACKGROUND: Spirituality has been positively associated with key adjustment indicators for individuals affected by traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. OBJECTIVE: To explore the perceptions of health professionals working in rehabilitation in relation to spirituality and spiritual care practice. METHODS: An observational study. An adapted version of the Royal College of Nursing Spirituality Survey was emailed to specialty networks of rehabilitation health professionals across Australia. RESULTS: The majority of the 125 participants were female (92.8%), from a nursing (67.2%) background, and selected 'Christian' as their religious affiliation (68.8%). A range of spiritual needs for rehabilitation clients were identified, including a source of hope and strength. Although 84% agreed that spirituality was a fundamental aspect of healthcare, 85% agreed that staff did not receive enough education or training. Thematic analysis identified three key ways participants felt their workplaces could better address spirituality: increasing staff knowledge and skills in providing spiritual care, incorporating spirituality into rehabilitation processes, and providing patients with access to spiritual resources. CONCLUSIONS: Spirituality is considered to play an important role after traumatic injury, but most staff do not feel well equipped to provide spiritual care. Training in spiritual care for rehabilitation professionals is warranted.

Do spirituality, resilience and hope mediate outcomes among family caregivers after traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury? A structural equation modelling approach.

BACKGROUND: A deficits approach to understanding psychological adjustment in family caregivers of individuals with a neurological disability is extensive, but further research in the field of positive psychology (spirituality, resilience, hope) may provide a potential avenue for broadening knowledge of the family caregiver experience after traumatic brain injury (TBI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). OBJECTIVE: To test a proposed model of spirituality among family caregivers of individuals with TBI or SCI, using structural equation modelling (SEM). METHODS: A cross-sectional design was employed to survey ninety-nine family participants (TBI = 76, SCI = 23) from six rehabilitation units from NSW and Queensland. Assessments comprised Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-being Scale-Expanded, Connor -Davidson Resilience Scale, Herth Hope Index, and three measures of psychological adjustment including Caregiver Burden Scale, Positive and Negative Affect Scale, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale. RESULTS: SEM showed the proposed model was a good fit. The main findings indicated spirituality had a direct negative link with burden. Spirituality had a direct positive association with hope which, in succession, had a positive link with resilience. Spirituality influenced positive affect indirectly, being mediated by resilience. Positive affect, in turn, had a negative association with depression in caregivers. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to better targeting strength-based family interventions.

Mindfulness for pain, depression, anxiety, and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Populations with reduced sensory and motor function, such as spinal cord injury (SCI) are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, pain, and poorer quality of life (QoL). Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) have been developed with the aim of improving outcomes for people with SCI. To understand the value of MBIs, a systematic review was conducted pertaining to the use of MBIs, and interventions including elements of mindfulness, with people with SCI. METHODS: Databases were reviewed from 1996 to October 2018 (updated January 2020). Eligibility criteria included the assessment of at least one of the common secondary consequences of SCI (i.e. risk of depression, anxiety, pain, and QoL), describe the use of mindfulness training as a component part of an intervention, or as the whole intervention. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias and The Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tools were utilised for quality appraisals. Two assessors appraised the studies and demonstrated good agreement (Cohen's k = .848, p < .001). RESULTS: Five papers met the inclusion criteria, and demonstrated a range of results of interventions delivered individually, in a group format, in person, and online. Only one study reported significant reductions in pain-related outcomes (with moderate effect sizes), with the remaining studies (n = 4) demonstrating no change. Four studies described reductions in depressive symptoms and three reported reductions in anxiety. Despite the importance of good QoL as a goal for people with SCI, few studies (n = 2) assessed this as an outcome with no improvements reported. Study quality ranged from high to low/weak. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this review provide mixed support for the use of mindfulness to improve outcomes after SCI. In particular, findings indicate that mindfulness may be particularly effective for improving symptoms of depression and anxiety. This review highlights the requirement for more rigorous, high-quality research, particularly larger randomised-controlled trials with long-term follow-up, in this area. The small number of studies included in the present review mean that conclusions drawn are preliminary and thus reflects the paucity of the research in the area to date.

Training with FES-assisted cycling in a subject with spinal cord injury: Psychological, physical and physiological considerations.

CONTEXT: People with spinal cord injury (SCI) experience the effects of a sedentary lifestyle very early on. Literature data suggest that programs using FES-assisted cycling would contribute to reduce the consequences of physical inactivity. The objective was to assess the feasibility of 12-month training on a FES-assisted bike of a subject with paraplegia for 21 years, T3, Asia Impairment Scale (AIS) A. An evaluation of morbidity, self-esteem, satisfaction, quality of life and duration of pedaling was performed. The impact on pain, cardiorespiratory function, body composition and bone metabolism were also assessed. FINDINGS: The acceptability score of the training constraints increased from 51 to 59/65 and satisfaction was high around 8/10. The pedaling duration increased from 1' to 26' on the recumbent bike and from 1' to 15' on open terrain. No significant changes were found with BMD and cardiorespiratory measures during exercise tests. SF 36 showed significant improvement of more than 10% and the Rosenberg Self Esteem score rapidly improved from 36 to 39/40. At the end of the training, the patient reached the objective of the Cybathlon 2016 by covering 750 m in less than 8 minutes, at an average speed of 5.80 km/hr. CONCLUSION/CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A person with high and complete level of SCI for more than 20 years can undertake this type of challenge if the prerequisites are met; this training is without danger if the safety precautions are respected; the challenge of participating in a competition had a powerful impact on JP's self-esteem and perceived quality of life.

Interdisciplinary bodyweight management program for persons with SCI.

Objective: Persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a higher prevalence of being overweight than the general population, which is thought to be due to a variety of metabolic, physiologic and psychological changes. The quality improvement project described in this work was designed to help overweight persons with SCI lose bodyweight through nutrition, exercise, and behavioral management strategies.Methods: Eighteen persons with SCI who were overweight were enrolled in a 12-week interdisciplinary weight management program. Participants were limited to persons at least one-year post-acute SCI with an established overweight status. Measurements, including a person's weight, body mass index, and waist circumference (WaC), were taken at the program's start, at its end, and six months post program.Results: Seventeen out of 18 participants experienced weight loss, (WaC) decreased (P < 0.001), and the program was effective at reducing weight (P < 0.001). Six months following participation in the program participants did experience a significant change in weight or waist size six months post program, thus indicating that subjects did not regain weight after completion of the program.Conclusion: This quality improvement project provided indications of the benefits of an SCI-specific interdisciplinary weight management program. Clinical research evaluating methods for helping persons with SCI achieve a healthy bodyweight is indicated.

Time-related changes in quality of life in persons with lower limb amputation or spinal cord injury: protocol for a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Experiencing a lower limb amputation (LLA) or spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing event, affecting physical and systemic function as well as having psychological and social impacts. However, the severity of the physical impairment and/or motor disability demonstrates a poor relationship with patient-reported quality of life, suggesting that other factors determine such outcomes. As such, holistic health-related quality of life (QoL) assessment is an important tool to monitor long-term outcomes. While there are some studies that have assessed the influence of variables such as age at time of injury occurrence and time since injury on changes in QoL, there are no systematic reviews which synthesise this evidence. METHODS/DESIGN: All follow-up study designs will be included, where data from multiple time points are presented. Searches will target both SCI and LLA populations where a validated measure of QoL has been used: Medical Outcome Study Short-Form 36/12 or the World Health Organization Quality of Life instruments 100 and BREF. Studies must include adult participants (≥ 18 years at time of injury) and detail time since injury event and patient age. The primary objective is to establish the effects of participant age and time since injury on QoL scores. Secondary objectives include determining between-group effects (i.e. LLA vs. SCI). We will search PubMed, Embase and Web of Science databases, supplemented by hand-searching references within existing review articles and experimental studies. Reviewer pairs will conduct screening and quality assessment of included papers. Results will be stratified by impairment, QoL tool, age/time since injury and additional variables such as sex, race, comorbidity or disease aetiology, as appropriate. If sufficient high-quality data exist, a meta-analysis will be conducted. DISCUSSION: The results of this systematic review will summarise evidence of how QoL changes across the life course, relative to both patient age and time since injury, for both LLA and SCI populations. By enabling a direct comparison of different chronic conditions, disability-specific differences in QoL changes over the life course can be identified. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42018096633 .

A study of whether individual and dyadic relations between spirituality and resilience contribute to psychological adjustment among individuals with spinal cord injuries and their family members.

OBJECTIVE: To test a model of spiritual well-being and resilience among individuals with spinal cord injuries and their family members. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional observational data were analyzed by structural equation modelling. SETTING: Inpatient and community services at one rehabilitation hospital. SUBJECTS: Individual with spinal cord injury (n = 50) and family member (n = 50) dyads. INTERVENTIONS: Standard rehabilitation, both inpatient and community. MAIN MEASURE(S): Functional assessment of chronic illness therapy - spiritual well-being scale - expanded, Connor-Davidson resilience scale, positive and negative affect scale, depression anxiety and stress scale-21, satisfaction with life scale. RESULTS: Median time post-injury was 8.95 months (IQR (interquartile range) = 14.15). Individuals with spinal cord injury and family members reported high scores for both spiritual well-being (66.06 ± 14.89; 68.42 ± 13.75) and resilience (76.68 ± 13.88; 76.64 ± 11.75), respectively. Analysis found the model had acceptable fit (e.g. chi-square goodness of fit statistic = 38.789; P = .263). For individuals with spinal cord injury, spiritual well-being was positively associated with resilience which, in turn, was associated with increasing positive affect and satisfaction with life. Among family members, spiritual well-being was positively associated with resilience. Resilience was then associated with lowered levels of depression and mediated the impact of depression on satisfaction with life. Limited evidence was found for mutual dyadic links, with the only significant pathway finding that resilience in the individual with spinal cord injury was associated with increased satisfaction with life among family members. CONCLUSION: Increased spirituality and resilience make a significant contribution (both independently and in combination) to positive psychological outcomes for both individuals with spinal cord injury and their family members.

A therapeutic songwriting intervention to promote reconstruction of self-concept and enhance well-being following brain or spinal cord injury: pilot randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the size of the effects and feasibility (recruitment and retention rates) of a therapeutic songwriting protocol for in-patients and community-dwelling people with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial with songwriting intervention and care-as-usual control groups, in a mixed measures design assessed at three time points. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 47 participants (3 in-patients with acquired brain injury, 20 community participants with acquired brain injury, 12 in-patients with spinal cord injury, and 12 community participants with spinal cord injury: 23 1208 days post injury). INTERVENTIONS: The intervention group received a 12-session identity-targeted songwriting programme, where participants created three songs reflecting on perceptions of past, present, and future self. Control participants received care as usual. MEASURES: Baseline, postintervention, and follow-up measures comprised the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale (primary outcome measure), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. RESULTS: No significant between group pre-post intervention differences were found on the primary self-concept measure, the Head Injury Semantic Differential Scale ( p = 0.38, d = 0.44). Significant and large effect sizes from baseline to post between groups in favour of the songwriting group for Satisfaction with Life ( p = 0.04, n2 p = 0.14). There were no significant between group pre-post interaction effects for the Emotion Regulation Suppression subscale ( p = 0.12, n2 p = -0.08) although scores decreased in the songwriting group over time while increasing for the standard care group. There were no significant differences in baseline to follow-up between groups in any other outcome measures. Recruitment was challenging due to the small number of people eligible to participate combined with poor uptake by eligible participants, particularly the in-patient group. Retention rates were higher for the community-dwelling cohorts. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the challenges in recruitment and retention of participants invited to participate in a music therapy study. Findings suggest this identity-focused therapeutic songwriting protocols may be more beneficial for people who have transitioned from in-patient to community-contexts given the greater proportion of participants who consent and complete the intervention. Preliminary effects in favour of the intervention group were detected in a range of well-being measures suggesting that a larger study is warranted.

Efficacy of Internet-Delivered Mindfulness for Improving Depression in Caregivers of People With Spinal Cord Injuries and Chronic Neuropathic Pain: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the feasibility and efficacy of web-based mindfulness training for carers of people with spinal cord injury (SCI). DESIGN: Randomized controlled feasibility study with 3-month follow-up. SETTING: Community setting. PARTICIPANTS: Spouses or family caregivers (N=55) of people with SCI and chronic neuropathic pain were recruited via the direct care team and advertisements. Participants were older than 18 years (no upper age limit), with Internet access for the duration of the study. Participants were randomly allocated to an 8-week online mindfulness training intervention (n=28), or to receive 8 weeks of psychoeducational materials on SCI and chronic pain (n=27). INTERVENTIONS: An established web-based, mindfulness training course was delivered over 8 weeks. Participants completed 10 minutes of mindfulness practices, twice per day, 6 days per week, totaling 960 minutes. The control group received a weekly e-mail with psychoeducational materials (based on the established elements) on SCI and pain for 8 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Depression severity. RESULTS: Mindfulness reduced depression severity more than psychoeducation at T2 (mean difference= -.891; 95% confidence interval,-1.48 to -.30) and T3 (mean difference=-1.96; 95% confidence interval, -2.94 to -.97). Mindfulness training also reduced anxiety at T2 (mean difference=-.888; 95% confidence interval, -1.40 to -.38) and T3 (mean difference=-2.44; 95% confidence interval, -3.20 to -1.69). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that Internet-delivered mindfulness training offers unique benefits and is viable for caregivers of people with SCI and chronic neuropathic pain. Further work should explore the feasibility of combined education and mindfulness training incorporating both patient and caregiver, for optimum benefit.

Vitamin D, diet, and lifestyle in a chronic SCI population.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. OBJECTIVES: Determine dietary, lifestyle, and clinical factors associated with plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in persons with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boston, MA. METHODS: 174 participants completed food frequency and health questionnaires, provided a blood sample, and underwent dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess %total body fat. Linear regression models were used to assess cross-sectional associations of personal, lifestyle, and nutritional factors with plasma 25(OH)D. RESULTS: Independent factors positively associated with higher plasma 25(OH)D included vitamin D intake, age, hours of planned exercise, female sex, white race, wine consumption, and if a never or former smoker. The most important predictor of 25(OH)D was supplement intake. The majority of subjects (98.9% for vitamin D and 74.1% for calcium) did not meet the recommended daily allowance for adults from their diet alone. Level and completeness of SCI, injury duration, mobility, %total body fat, time outside, and comorbid diseases were not associated with plasma 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma 25(OH)D level in chronic SCI is not associated with clinical factors specific to SCI such as injury level and completeness, injury duration, and mobility mode, but related to supplement intake and other lifestyle factors.

Inner posture as aspect of global meaning in healthcare: a conceptual analysis.

Based on our empirical research on global meaning in people with spinal cord injury and people with stroke, we formulated 'inner posture' as a concept in rehabilitation. Inner posture, as we concluded from our empirical data, refers to the way in which people bear what cannot be changed. It helps them to live with their injury. Considering that much has already been written about meaning from a variety of disciplines, the question arises whether the concept of inner posture adds something new to the existing literature, or is just another name for a phenomenon that has already been described before in different terms. In this paper, we aim to investigate this and to clarify our conceptualization, by comparing the concept of inner posture with influential concepts in healthcare literature which seem to be more or less related. In the work of Puchalski regarding spirituality, Pargament regarding religion, Eliott regarding hope and Frankl regarding attitude, we found definitions and descriptions that seemed to come close to the phenomenon we refer to as inner posture. Because these concepts have various theoretical backgrounds, the comparison can help to better understand our concept of inner posture, through a process of dialogue between traditions, following Gadamer's notion of dialogue as fusion of horizons of understanding. We conclude that inner posture differs from the other concepts in several ways. Some of these differences are more fundamental, other are partial. This suggests that we identified a new perspective on a phenomenon partially described earlier. The comparison also inspired us to slightly adjust our definition and to formulate new research questions.