"It Helps Me With Everything": A Qualitative Study of the Importance of Exercise for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

The influence of exercise after spinal cord injury (SCI) is a topic important to both clinicians and researchers. The impact of exercise for individuals with SCI is often studied quantitively, with a large focus on the physiological adaptations to exercise intervention. This study explores individualized experiences of exercise for people with SCI. A phenomenological approach was utilized to qualitatively study the experiences of exercise for 16 individuals with SCI. Participants described multiple benefits of exercise, including increased independence, improved mental health, and increased engagement in social activity. This study provides novel information about attitudes toward exercise held by individuals with SCI and a more thorough understanding of concepts that are well researched.