The vestibular system has more connections with and influence on higher cortical centers than previously thought. These interactions with higher cortical centers and the phenomena that they elicit require a structural intact cerebral cortex. To date, little is known about the role and influence of the vestibular system on one’s body experience. In this study we show that caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) in healthy participants has an effect on the perceptive component of one’s body experience. After CVS all participants showed a statistically significant difference of thigh width estimation. In contrast to previous studies, which demonstrated an influence of CVS on higher cortical centers with an intact cerebral cortex both the cognitive and affective component of body experience were not effected by the CVS. Our results demonstrate the influence of the vestibular system on body perception and emphasize its role in modulating different perceptive-qualities which contributes to our body experience. We found that CVS has a limited influence on one’s conscious state, thought process and higher cortical functions.

The vestibular system has more connections with and influence on higher cortical centers than previously thought. These interactions with higher cortical centers and the phenomena that they elicit require a structural intact cerebral cortex. To date, little is known about the role and influence of the vestibular system on one’s body experience. In this study we show that caloric vestibular stimulation (CVS) in healthy participants has an effect on the perceptive component of one’s body experience. After CVS all participants showed a statistically significant difference of thigh width estimation. In contrast to previous studies, which demonstrated an influence of CVS on higher cortical centers with an intact cerebral cortex both the cognitive and affective component of body experience were not effected by the CVS. Our results demonstrate the influence of the vestibular system on body perception and emphasize its role in modulating different perceptive-qualities which contributes to our body experience. We found that CVS has a limited influence on one’s conscious state, thought process and higher cortical functions.

Bakgrund: Palliativ vård är baserad på en helhetssyn på människan och fokuserar på livskvalitet och värdighet. Patienter i den senare fasen av palliativ vård upplever ofta att kroppens försämringar påverkar deras självbild och självbestämmande. Fysisk aktivitet ger positiva effekter för patienter med avancerad cancer som orkar att träna intensivt, däremot patienter i den sena fasen av palliativ vård behöver mindre fysiskt krävande interventioner. Det saknas forskning angående upplevelser av rörelser och hur dessa kan påverka välbefinnandet för svårt sjuka patienter. Vidare behovs ökad förståelse för hur fysisk aktivitet kan främjas av personal på en specialiserad palliativ vårdavdelning. Syfte: Att beskriva erfarenheterna av en Rörelsestig på en specialiserad palliativ slutenvårdsavdelning. Metod: Studien är en kvalitativ studie med induktiv ansats. En 60 meter lång promenadstig med 4 utspridda övningsstationer skapades på hospiceavdelningen. Data om erfarenheterna av Rörelsestigen samlades in genom kommentarsenkäter för patienter och närstående samt fyra fokusgruppintervjuer med 11 vårdpersonal och en volontär. Inspelade samtal transkriberades och data analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys baserad på Graneheim och Lundman (2004). Analysprocessen pendlade mellan helheten och kodning av texten för att behålla meningen i samtalets kontext.  Resultat: En dataanalys av fokusgruppsintervjuerna resulterade i fem underteman. De första två undertemana; ’Ett inspirerande och utmanande verktyg att främja fysisk aktivitet’ samt ’Rörelsestigen innebär gemenskap’ var beskrivande, baserade på deltagarnas personliga erfarenheter och reflektioner. De tre andra undertemana, ’Mål ger dagen mening’, ’Återtar kontroll över sig själv’ och ’Jag är kvar i livet!’ var baserade på material där deltagarna uttryckte sig om vad de uppfattade att patienter och närstående upplevde. Dessa fem underteman samlades under huvudtemat ’Ett värdigt liv i rörelse nära döden.’ Diskussion: Resultaten från fokusgruppintervjuerna visar ett brett spann i upplevelser av Rörelsestigen, relaterade till olika aspekter av att vara en människa i en svår situation. Studien antyder att upplevelse av rörelse kan främja välbefinnande genom att ge stöd till patientens fysiska, psykiska, sociala och existentiella dimensioner både inom den tidiga och den sena fasen av palliativ vård. Rörelsestigen är enkel att sätta upp och introducera samt är flexibel i förhållande till olika typer av avdelningar då den inte kräver någon stor budget eller dyra redskap. Den ger tillgång till rörelseövningar för patienter och därmed de fördelar som rörelse ger.  Risken finns dock att upplevd tidsbrist skapar samvetsstress hos vårdpersonalen. Därför behövs  tydligt stöd från avdelningsledningen.  För vidare utveckling rekommenderas intervjuer med patienter angående deras erfarenheter av Rörelsestigen samt utvärdering av Rörelsestigen på andra palliativa vårdavdelningar i olika delar av landet. / Background: Palliative care is based on a holistic view of people and focuses on quality of life and dignity. Patients in the later phase of palliative care often experience changes in the body that affect their self-image and autonomy. Physical activity has showed positive effects in patients with advanced cancer who are able to train intensively, however patients in the later phase of palliative care need interventions that are less physically demanding. Research is lacking regarding experience of movement and how this can affect the wellbeing of seriously ill patients. Further understanding is also required into how healthcare workers can promote physical activity on a specialist palliative care ward.  Aim: To describe the experiences of a pathway for movement on a specialist palliative care ward. Method: This is a qualitative study with an inductive approach. Four stations, each with the opportunity to do a different movement were spread out over a pathway of approximately 60 meters on the hospice unit. Data on the experiences of using the pathway was collected through questionnaires for patients and their relatives as well as four focus group interviews with 11 health care workers and one volunteer. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed with qualitative content analysis according to Graneheim and Lundman (2004). The analytic process moved back and forth between focusing on the whole text and coding of the text in order to preserve the meaning in the context of the discussion. Results: Five sub themes were identified after data analysis. The two first sub themes; ’An inspiring and challenging tool to facilitate physical activity’ and ’Pathway for movement includes companionship’ were descriptive and based on the participants personal experiences and reflections. The three other sub themes; ’Goals give the day meaning’, ’Take back control over myself’ and ’I am still alive!’ were based on material where participants expressed what they believed patients and relatives experienced. These five sub themes were gathered in the main theme: ’A dignified life through movement close to death’ Discussion: The results reveal a wide range of experiences of the pathway for movement related to different aspects of being a human being in a difficult situation. The study suggests that experiencing movement can promote wellbeing through supporting the patients physical, psychological, social and existential dimensions, both in the early and later phases of palliative care. The pathway for movement is simple to set up and initiate as well as being flexible to different types of ward as it does not need a large budget or expensive equipment. It gives the opportunity to access physical activity and thus its benefits for patients. There is however a risk for increased stress for health care staff due to time constraints and therefore support is needed from management. Interviews with patients regarding their own experiences of the pathway for movement as well as its introduction in other palliative care units is recommended for future development.