LIVING WITH BALANCE LIMITATIONS AFTER FIRST-EVER STROKE

• Background: Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability among adults. Balance can be limited after stroke and the limitations affect walking and independence in activities of daily living. Having good balance has been described as an important factor in outdoor walking and for participation in exercises. Studies in which persons with stroke describe their experience of balance in everyday life are scarce.Aim: To describe experiences of living with balance limitations after first-ever stroke.Methods: A qualitative design, comprising interviews with 19 persons with first-ever stroke, ten women and nine men, aged between 42–92 years. Inclusion criteria were: having had a first-ever stroke and self-reported impaired balance, unaffected speech, independence in toileting and dressing, and walking ability indoors and outdoors with or without a walking aid. Data was analysed by means of an inductive content analysis covering both the manifest and the latent content of the transcribed interviews.Results: The results are presented in two themes illustrating the latent content of the data. “Feeling dizzy and unstable is a continuous challenge” revolves around participants’ descriptions of balance as a constant feeling of dizziness and unsteadiness. “Feeling trust and confidence despite dizziness and unsteadiness” is about perceived abilities and feelings of confidence about still being able to do things oneself, despite the dizziness and unsteadiness.Conclusion: All participants experienced the balance limitations as a continuous challenge in everyday life, yet they also felt trust and confidence and experienced that they still managed their everyday life.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Annan hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Other Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

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