“Movement to help us move forwards in life” : an exploration of meaningful movement and chronic pain through zine-making : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Health Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand via Distance

Abstract

Chronic Pain (CP) is one of the most widespread long-term health conditions globally, and its prevalence is expected to rise in coming years. Physical activity is widely promoted as a best-practice intervention for people experiencing CP, yet engaging in movement is often challenging, with pain itself acting as a barrier. Existing research narratives of what constitutes meaningful movement are largely shaped by biomedical perspectives, leaving limited space for community-led understandings. CP is also frequently misunderstood and difficult to communicate, contributing to its status as an invisible and sometimes dismissed experience. This study worked collaboratively with members of a CP peer-support group to explore how they understand, express, and use meaningful movement to live well with persistent and fluctuating pain. Using arts-based methodology informed by participatory-action tenets, the research centred lived experience and the co-production of a collaborative zine. This approach aligned with participatory action researchers’ commitment to democratising knowledge and enable co-researchers to articulate embodied, emotional, and relational dimensions of moving with CP which are often overlooked in clinical framings. The findings highlight how meaningful movement is constructed through everyday movement, reciprocity, identity, and connection, offering rich and nuanced understandings of movement within the context of living with persistent and fluctuating pain.