Lived Experiences of Returning to Participation After Mild Stroke: A Phenomenological Study in Spain

INTRODUCTION: The process of returning to participation after a stroke depends on various individual and contextual factors, yet little is known about those with slight dependency. This study aimed to explore the experiences of people with mild sequelae after stroke in relation to their return to participation, considering the socio-cultural context of Spain. METHOD: A qualitative phenomenological study was conducted involving 35 mild stroke survivors walking independently. The participants had experienced a stroke at least 6 months earlier. Data collection consisted of semi-structured interviews and researchers' field notes. The analysis was conducted following Giorgi's method. FINDINGS: Three themes were obtained: (a) Intrapersonal context: resilience to face sequelae and achieve autonomy, self-reflections; (b) Return to daily life: home and leisure, work and study, daily community and travel; and (c) Interpersonal and social participation reengage: close connections, social bonds. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that returning to participation after a mild stroke is a highly heterogeneous process and is shaped by social support, adaptations facilitating independence, self-determination, and the development of post-stroke roles. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Individuals with lived experience engaged in the analysis and verification of the presented data. Their input helped ensure that the findings were interpreted in a way that reflects real-world perspectives and relevance. No patient or public involvement occurred during the design or conduct of the study, or in the preparation of the manuscript.