Publications and academic activity
My academic activity focuses on qualitative and embodied understanding of body experience, health and illness, as well as issues related to movement and physical activity.
I am particularly interested in how personal experience can become a source of knowledge – and how research can support a more sensitive, empathetic and complex approach to humans.
PhD
I am currently pursuing a PhD, focusing on qualitative and embodied understanding of experiences related to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).
My research combines personal perspective with scientific analysis, using evocative autoethnography as a research method.
Selected publications
Scoliosis, embodiment and Evidence-Based Practice
Grantham, W., Jespersen, E., & Płaszewski, M. (2021). The end of being a straight child: An autoethnography of coping with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(3), 362–369.
Grantham, W., Jespersen, E., & Płaszewski, M. (2021). Dancing my scoliosis: An autoethnography of healing from bodily doubt through somatic practices. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 13(3), 438–454.
Grantham, W., Płaszewski, M., & Byczkowska-Owczarek, D. (2023). Giving voice to young people: Evocative autoethnography as a method of researching personal experiences connected to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. A discursive article. Physiotherapy Review, 27(1), 5–14.
Link: Physiotherapy Review article
Płaszewski, M., Grantham, W., & Jespersen, E. (2020). Screening for scoliosis–New recommendations, old dilemmas, no straight solutions. World Journal of Orthopedics, 11(9), 364–379.
Płaszewski, M., Grantham, W., & Jespersen, E. (2019). Mapping the evidence of experiences related to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A scoping review protocol. BMJ Open, 9(11), e032865.
Płaszewski, M., Krzepkowska, W., Grantham, W., Wroński, Z., Makaruk, H., & Trębska, J. (2022). Knowledge, behaviours and attitudes towards evidence-based practice amongst physiotherapists in Poland: A nationwide cross-sectional survey and focus group study protocol. PLOS ONE, 17(3), e0264531.
Pregnancy, physical activity and women's health
Makaruk, B., Grantham, W., Forczek-Karkosz, W., & Płaszewski, M. (2025). "It's more than just exercise": Psychosocial experiences of women in the Conscious 9 Months specifically designed prenatal exercise programme–A qualitative study. Healthcare, 13(7), 727.
Makaruk, B., Grantham, W., & Szeszko, Ł. (2023). "Conscious 9 Months" gestational diabetes mellitus lifestyle program combining regular exercise and nutritional intervention: A mixed-method case report. Health Problems of Civilization, 17(4), 349–367.
Makaruk, B., Grantham, W., Organista, N., & Płaszewski, M. (2022). "Conscious Nine Months": Exploring regular physical activity amongst pregnant women–A qualitative study protocol. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(18), 11605.
Makaruk, B., Iciek, R., Zalewski, A., Galczak-Kondraciuk, A., & Grantham, W. (2021). The effects of a physical exercise program on fetal well-being and intrauterine safety. Ginekologia Polska, 92(2), 126–131.
Research projects
PRO-EBP — Evidence-Based Physiotherapy Practice
Participation in a nationwide and international project promoting evidence-based physiotherapy practice (EBP). As part of the project, I co-created translations of specialized scientific materials, development of educational resources, and qualitative research on physiotherapists' attitudes towards EBP.
FIZJO-LEARNING — physiotherapists' competencies in working with infectious diseases
Co-participation in a project co-funded by the European Union, aimed at developing physiotherapists' competencies in working with patients suffering from COVID-19 and other conditions. My role included translation and development of international guidelines and training materials based on current scientific knowledge.
Academic cooperation
I am open to research collaboration and interdisciplinary projects – especially in areas related to:
embodiment and body experience
health in biopsychosocial perspective
qualitative research
dance and movement psychotherapy
If your research interests are similar – please get in touch.