ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To systematically search for current research on the role of resilience in the physical rehabilitation of SCI and describe the research to date. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach was used. Five databases were searched for papers published up to March 2020. The sample included adults who have sustained an SCI; outcomes included a physical rehabilitation outcome and a measure of psychological or personal resilience/resilience training. RESULTS: The initial search found 2074 studies. 12 studies were included. Six suggest positive effects of resilience on physical functioning/recovery, six report resilience as not affecting physical functioning/recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Resilience may positively affect physical outcomes; however, the relationship is under-researched and contrasting findings may be due to measurements and methods employed by research. Future research may distinguish between two sources of resilience following an SCI: prior resilient experiences, and resilience as a product of the injury. Individuals' past events that triggered resilient behaviour may be able to promote a resilient response to an SCI. Focussing on emotional coping may result in poorer outcomes than building a sense of control. Resilience training may affect psychosocial rehabilitation; it is difficult to establish if it would affect physical outcomes. A negative approach to an injury can have negative effects on functioning; when identifying patients for psychoeducational training, those with the presence of negative appraisals of their injury are most in need.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONResilience may positively affect physical outcomes; however, the relationship is under-researched.Individuals' past events that triggered resilient behaviour may be able to promote a resilient response to an SCI.Focussing on emotional coping may result in poorer outcomes than building a sense of control.When identifying patients for psychoeducational training, it may be those with the presence of negative appraisals of their injury that are most in need.
