TY - ABST

T1 - Conceptualisations of ageing and physical activity after stroke

T2 - EASS and ISSA World Congress of Sociology of Sport

AU - Clay, Georgia Emily

AU - Evans, Adam B.

AU - Allen-Collinson, Jacquelyn

AU - Henderson, Hannah

N1 - (Abstract)

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Description of the phenomenon to be studied: Within the extant research, a cerebrovascular accident or stroke has often been portrayed as a highly biomedical phenomenon, with UK clinical guidelines focusing primarily on the medicalisation of patients and their recovery. Older adults are at a greater physiological risk of stroke, yet there are limited recommendations specifically for people in later life. This lacuna is especially pertinent in the context of physical activity and exercise, despite an evidence base that demonstrates how older adults benefit greatly from individualised and person-centred approaches to being active. Aims/objectives: This presentation provides a detailed examination of the current understandings surrounding conceptualisations of ageing, physical activity, and exercise after stroke, from a sociological perspective. It also reviews previous theoretical bases for such work and indicates how a figurational sociological analysis can provide a novel theoretical perspective to explore exercise during stroke rehabilitation for older adults.Justifications: Figurational sociology has frequently been applied in the context of sport, particularly related to Elias’ ‘Civilizing Process’, and holds promise for an insightful understanding of how the interdependent relationships between professionals (e.g., physiotherapists, exercise professionals) and stroke survivors can powerfully shape opportunities for, and experiences of, physical activity after stroke.Implications: Recent research demonstrates the need to enhance understanding of the context of community physical activity and exercise for stroke survivors. It is timely, therefore, to investigate how a figurational sociological approach can be used to shape provision and delivery of community rehabilitation for interdependent older adults to engage in exercise after stroke.

AB - Description of the phenomenon to be studied: Within the extant research, a cerebrovascular accident or stroke has often been portrayed as a highly biomedical phenomenon, with UK clinical guidelines focusing primarily on the medicalisation of patients and their recovery. Older adults are at a greater physiological risk of stroke, yet there are limited recommendations specifically for people in later life. This lacuna is especially pertinent in the context of physical activity and exercise, despite an evidence base that demonstrates how older adults benefit greatly from individualised and person-centred approaches to being active. Aims/objectives: This presentation provides a detailed examination of the current understandings surrounding conceptualisations of ageing, physical activity, and exercise after stroke, from a sociological perspective. It also reviews previous theoretical bases for such work and indicates how a figurational sociological analysis can provide a novel theoretical perspective to explore exercise during stroke rehabilitation for older adults.Justifications: Figurational sociology has frequently been applied in the context of sport, particularly related to Elias’ ‘Civilizing Process’, and holds promise for an insightful understanding of how the interdependent relationships between professionals (e.g., physiotherapists, exercise professionals) and stroke survivors can powerfully shape opportunities for, and experiences of, physical activity after stroke.Implications: Recent research demonstrates the need to enhance understanding of the context of community physical activity and exercise for stroke survivors. It is timely, therefore, to investigate how a figurational sociological approach can be used to shape provision and delivery of community rehabilitation for interdependent older adults to engage in exercise after stroke.

M3 - Conference abstract in proceedings

SP - 192

EP - 192

BT - Why Does Sociology Matter? 

PB - European Association for the Sociology of Sport

Y2 - 7 June 2022 through 10 June 2022

ER -