Starting a new conversation: Engaging Veterans with spinal cord injury in discussions of what function means to them, the barriers/facilitators they encounter, and the adaptations they use to optimize function

This study explores how Veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCI) define 'function,' the obstacles they face, and the strategies they use to improve their function. Veterans took photographs of things that helped or hindered their function, and the adaptations they made. Interviews were then conducted to discuss the photos. The study found that function, for these Veterans, involved normalcy, independence, and the ability to perform daily activities. Facilitators included helpful tools and transportation, while barriers included wheelchair issues and inaccessible environments.

• 1
  Participants defined function in terms of 'normalcy,' aspects of daily living, and the ability to be independent.
• 2
  Facilitators to function included helpful tools, physical therapy/therapists, transportation, and caregivers.
• 3
  Barriers to function included wheelchair-related issues and interior/exterior barriers both in the community and in the hospital.