Trunks

This case study explores the intersections between embodiment, medical humanities, and interdisciplinary creative practices through the lens of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) and the BackBone research study. It critically examines how artistic methods, particularly participatory workshops, contribute to understanding the lived experiences of young women diagnosed with AIS. While clinical research on scoliosis predominantly focuses on biomechanical assessments, this study foregrounds the personal and psychological dimensions of the condition. Workshops enabled participants to engage in self-reflection through artistic processes, fostering connections between personal identity and the natural environment. The BackBone project, conducted at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, integrated nature-based artistic engagement, including tree imagery, walking methodologies, and experimental art-making, to foster self-expression and social cohesion among participants. Drawing from a broad range of interdisciplinary literature, the study highlights the inadequacies of clinical terminology in capturing patients’ subjective experiences and medical descriptors such as ‘deformity” and “abnormality”, which reinforce negative self-perceptions. The project also revealed tensions between standardised clinical assessments, such as the SRS-22r questionnaire, and the nuanced realities of living with scoliosis. Participants expressed frustration with impersonal medical evaluations, underscoring the need for holistic, patient-centred approaches. Ultimately, the chapter argues for the integration of creative and environmental humanities within healthcare research. By dissolving boundaries between art, health, and science, BackBone illustrates how interdisciplinary methodologies can provide a more comprehensive understanding of chronic conditions, enhance well-being, and reshape narratives surrounding medicalised bodies.