Category The Sensuality of Connection   Show all

  • Two New Ways to Support Wellbeing After Spinal Cord Injury

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    Dr Marita Heck, Adjunct Research Fellow at The Hopkins Centre, has two exciting new contributions aimed at enhancing the lives of people living with spinal cord injury (SCI)—from evidence-based research to practical guidance on intimacy and pleasure.

    1. New insights into sexual rehabilitation support after spinal cord injury

    In “Sexual rehabilitation support experiences of Australian adults living with a spinal cord injury” (Allen, Heck, Doig, Cudmore, Lawrence & Mason, 2025), the team explored the lived experiences of nine Australian adults (8 men; 1 woman) with spinal cord injury (SCI). Guided by Material–Discursive–Intrapsychic Theory, the study revealed how physical functioning, relational identity and broader disability-stigma discourses combine to shape sexual quality of life after SCI.

    Key findings:

    • Rehabilitation tends to focus strongly on physical function (e.g., erection, ejaculation) while giving less attention to emotional, relational and identity-aspects of sexuality.
    • Participants described loss of autonomy, feelings of shame or stigma, and challenges in partner communication / relational connection as major influences on sexual wellbeing.
    • When sexual rehabilitation support attends to emotional connection, personalised equipment and partner-/relationship-oriented goals, outcomes for sexual wellbeing improve.

    Why it matters:

    • Because sexuality is a fundamental component of wellbeing, addressing it in rehabilitation is critical — yet often under-addressed for people with SCI.
    • By broadening support beyond just “physical functioning” to include relational, psychological and identity dimensions, clinicians and services can help people living with SCI experience fuller, more meaningful sexual lives.

    Practical tip:
    If you work in rehabilitation (or support someone who does), embed a simple “relationship check-in” into the routine: ask “How has your /intimacy /connection changed since the injury?” and then include a follow-up question “What aspect of this would you like to change/restore?” Use that to guide discussion of equipment, partner communication, self-identity and expectations — not just physical sexual function.

    📄 Citation:
    Allen, A., Heck, M., Doig, C., Cudmore, T., Lawrence, K., & Mason, J. (2025). Sexual rehabilitation support experiences of Australian adults living with a spinal cord injury. The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 1–10.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/10790268.2025.2496567

    Photo of an open hard cover book, with middle pages forming the shape of a heart, with the quote “What if your body’s worth wasn’t defined by what it can or can’t do?” Dr Marita Heck.

    2. Exploring Intimacy and Pleasure

    Off the back of research findings and clinical work, Dr Heck has also released The Sensuality of Connection: An Erotic Playbook to Intimacy After Spinal Cord Injury, to bridge the gap. Whilst the guide is designed for people living with SCI—it is truly suitable for everyone! This resource encourages exploring connection, intimacy, and pleasure in new, playful ways.

    Whether you’re a researcher, clinician, or someone interested in living well after SCI, Dr Heck’s latest work offers insights and practical tools to support recovery, wellbeing, and connection.

    Get in touch / learn more:

    Dr Marita Heck
    The Hopkins Centre
    marita.heck@griffith.edu.au