Disability Sport Research Articles

Understanding Reasons for Participation and Barriers Within Adaptive Sports for Individuals with Physical Disabilities

The importance of participating in physical activity is widely advocated to reduce diseases, especially for individuals with physical disabilities. Adaptive sports have shown a multitude of benefits for those with physical disabilities, but few researchers have determined the benefits of adaptive sports from the perspective of the athletes. The purpose of this research study was to explore (1) reasons that individuals with physical disabilities engage in adaptive sports and (2) why individuals with physical disabilities do not participate in adaptive sports. Using an ethnographic qualitative retrospective design, 104 participant survey and phone interview responses were analyzed. Four themes emerged for reasons for adaptive sports participation including three subthemes, and five themes for barriers to adaptive sports participation. Applications for practice will be discussed for practitioners working with individuals who engage in adaptive sports will be identified.

Treatment of Partial-Thickness Rotator Cuff Tears with Bio-Inductive Collagen Implant for Paraplegic Tennis Player: A Case Report

In patient with lower limb disability, rotator cuff disorders are prevalent, with partial thickness tears occurring at nearly twice the rate of full thickness tears. For those with acromion spurs unresponsive to conservative treatment, rotator cuff repair via the take-down method poses a retear risk and requires extensive rehabilitation. Conversely, surgery utilizing bio-inductive collagen implants shows a lower retear risk and enables faster recovery, making it an appealing option for wheelchair athletes. Thus, the authors aim to present favorable outcomes from isolated bio-inductive collagen implant repair in a 45-year-old female wheelchair tennis player with a bursal side partial thickness tear, alongside a literature review.

Introduction to Adaptive Sports: An Intervention Protocol for Youth

Certified therapeutic recreation specialists (CTRS®s) within pediatric rehabilitation inpatient (PR-I) units use a variety of treatment modalities. One such modality is adaptive sports. Positive emotions that can be generated when participating in an adaptive sports activity include enjoyment and gratification. CTRSs are able to provide youth in the PR-I unit with a unique experience that teaches them about adaptive sports while introducing a potential new leisure pursuit. Thus, the Introduction to Adaptive Sports program was developed with the intent of documenting youths' knowledge related to adaptive sports following brief exposure, their enjoyment of ac-tivities associated with four different adaptive sports, and their interest in future participation. The youth involved in the piloting of this protocol were asked to complete a Knowledge and Future Participation Quiz as well as an Enjoyment Scale to measure their level of knowledge about each adaptive sport presented, how much they enjoyed participating in each ses-sion, and if they would be interested in future participation. The results showed that the youth demonstrated strong knowledge about each adaptive sport (average scores of 5.06 out of 6). The scores on the Enjoyment Scale indicated that youth on the PR-I unit enjoyed the adaptive sports sessions (average scores of 8.38 out of 10). Addition-ally, participant responses indicated 78.13% overall interest in future participation in the four presented adaptive sports. Though the preliminary results from the trial of this protocol are encouraging, recommendations for revision and future study by CTRS professionals on PR-I units are included.

Adaptive Sport and Recreational Therapy: A Scoping Review to Explore Practices for the Profession

Adaptive sports provide athletes with disabilities with independent engagement while increasing their physical health and skill-building abilities. Recreational therapy prides itself as the primary discipline implementing adaptive sports for individuals with disabilities, yet efficacy needs to be determined. A scoping review was conducted using recreational therapy/therapeutic recreation online journals, and standardized checklists with predefined criteria to extract details on study design, procedures, outcomes, and study quality. Data were analyzed by three researchers using a structured, blinded review. Four themes emerged about recreational therapy services and adaptive sports: Fostering positive athlete outcomes, the importance of including both components of physical health and skill competency, social benefits for athletes, and facilitation considerations for adaptive sports within recreational therapy services. Findings warrant additional research on adaptive sports and recreational therapy services and recommendations for practice are discussed, such as establishing best practice guidelines for this specialty area.

The relationship between multidimensional social support and well-being in disability sport

In this study, we investigated the relationships among perceived social support, perceived available support in sport, team cohesion, grit, sport engagement, and life satisfaction among disability sport athletes. Twenty-four athletes from Israel and Belgium, aged 22 to 65, 87.5% male (n = 24) and 12.5% female (n = 3), with physical disabilities participated. The results showed significant positive correlations between team cohesion and sport engagement (r = 0.44, p < 0.05) and life satisfaction (r = 0.57, p < 0.01). Team cohesion was also linked to perceived social support (r = 0.55, p < 0.01). Finally, grit and sport engagement (r = 0.50, p < 0.01) and perceived social support and sport engagement (r = 0.50, p < 0.05) were correlated. These findings underscore the importance of supportive social environments inside and outside of sport in potentially enhancing athlete well-being.

Theoretical approaches to the problem of integration of servicemen with disabilities into society

The problems of health disorders and disabilities among military personnel in the security forces today, in the context of warfare, are quite relevant for any social environment, peoples and the country as a whole, which requires the attention of the state leadership and scientists in the search, development and implementation of the latest technologies adapted to the needs of persons with disabilities, taking into account their needs. It is worth noting that in recent years, the attitude to this category of servicemen has changed significantly and health disorders are considered a social phenomenon. The scientific article is devoted to the study and analysis of problems related to adaptive physical culture and sports for military personnel with health disabilities. The author proposes a set of measures to address them, and emphasizes the need to create conditions, scientifically based training programs and specialized sports facilities for physical exercises for servicemen with disabilities, their accessibility, and improvement of the regulatory framework based on the realities of servicemen's participation in combat operations.

Determining the Impact of Adaptive Games on the Individuals’ Psycho-Emotional State among Different Age Groups in Poland and Ukraine

Objectives. The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of implementating projects for the introduction of adaptive sports games on the psycho-emotional state of different population groups in Poland and Ukraine. Materials and methods. A total of 341 individuals were involved in the study: 117 children (8-12 years old), 118 middle-aged people (35-60 years old), and 116 elderly people (60 years and older). The participants of the study were divided into two groups: those who took part in the Polish project “Academic Center of Sports and Health Games for Activation of People with Special Needs” (56 children, 65 adults, 73 elderly people), and those who took part in the Polish-Ukrainian project, which was conducted directly in Ukraine, “Ukrainian Center of Occupational Therapy through Adaptive Games” (61 children, 53 adults, 44 elderly people). All study participants were engaged in adaptive games (Cornhole, Jacollo, Elastik, Kulbutto, Boccia, Paka laka) for the first time. At the beginning and end of the event on adaptive games, a survey of participants was conducted. To determine the psycho-emotional state of children, the WAM method (well-being, activity, mood) was used, and the features of adults’ psychological state were assessed using the standard test AWAMW (anxiety, working capacity, activity, mood, well-being). Results. The analysis of the obtained study results revealed positive changes in the psycho-emotional state of different population groups in Poland and Ukraine under the influence of adaptive sports games. Furthermore, the adult population, including the elderly of Poland and Ukraine, demonstrated decreased anxiety levels and a significant enhancement in activity, mood and well-being due to engaging in adaptive sports games. Conclusions. This study emphasizes the potential of adaptive sports games to improve the mental health of different population groups. The findings also indicate the effectiveness of implementating projects for the introduction of adaptive games on the psycho-emotional state of different population groups both in Poland and Ukraine.

Association of Clinical Findings With Complications in the Cubitus Varus Deformity After Supracondylar Fracture.

Cubitus varus deformity is primarily a cosmetic complaint that causes some early and late complications. However, no studies have reported the cubitus varus deformity regarding the frequency of complications, relationship to the degree of deformity, and period from the occurrence of the initial injury. Overall, 83 patients with cubitus varus deformity were examined. The differences in the humerus-elbow-wrist angle (∆HEW-A), tilting angle (∆TA), and internal rotation angle (∆IRA) between the affected and normal sides were measured to determine varus and extension and internal rotation deformity. The period from the occurrence of the initial injury to the evaluation date was also investigated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the explanatory variables (period, ∆HEW-A, ∆TA, and ∆IRA) independently associated with complication events. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis was also conducted to predict the risk of events. ∆HEW-A was independently associated with the risk of cosmetic complaint (odds ratio [OR], 1.171; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.056 to 1.336) and instability (OR, 1.111; 95% CI, 1.028 to 1.200). ∆TA was independently associated with the risk of limited elbow motion (OR, 1.176; 95% CI, 1.077 to 1.285) and sports disability (OR, 0.892; 95% CI, 0.836 to 0.952). The period from the occurrence of the initial injury was independently associated with risk of pain (OR, 1.063; 95% CI, 1.019 to 1.108), ulnar nerve neuropathy (OR, 1.065; 95% CI, 1.011 to 1.125), and osteoarthritis (OR, 1.188; 95% CI, 1.098 to 1.286). The receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed the optimal cutoffs of 20° and 27° for ∆HEW-A to predict cosmetic complaint and instability; of 25° for ∆TA to predict limited elbow motion; and of 8.8, 8.0, and 16.0 years for the period to predict pain, ulnar nerve neuropathy, and osteoarthritis, respectively. The treatment of cubitus varus deformity should be determined because a residual deformity >20° of varus and 25° of extension could develop risk of complications over time.

Neurological conditions and community-based physical activity: physical therapists' belief and actions.

Physical therapists (PTs) are key actors in physical activity (PA) promotion. However, it remains unclear whether PTs in community settings promote community-based PA such as adapted physical activity (APA) and adaptive sports (AS) to their patients with neurological conditions (NCs). The main purposes were to evaluate the beliefs PTs have of APA and AS, and to explore actions they undertake to promote it to their patients with NCs. An online survey was created specifically for the study. PT associations and institutions were contacted and licensed PTs working in community-based settings, treating at least one patient with a NC, were invited to participate. Questionnaires were analyzed only if all mandatory questions had been answered. A total of 165 questionnaires were analyzed. PTs reported prioritizing active treatment. They viewed APA and AS as beneficial for their patients with NCs; however, its promotion remained largely infrequent due to a number of barriers. The PTs' own level of PA seemed to significantly influence their beliefs of the benefits of APA and AS (p = 0.001), while being specialized in neurologic physical therapy enabled the PTs to increase frequency of promotion (p = 0.003). Though community-based PTs are aware of the importance of PA for individuals with NCs, they face difficulties in promoting it to their patients. However, these difficulties are reduced among PTs who are specialized in neurologic physical therapy. Efforts should be made toward educating PTs to neurological pathologies and their specificities when it comes to PA.

PARALÍMPIADAS NA MÍDIA: UM ESTUDO SOBRE A RIO 2016 NO PORTAL “LANCE”

The Paralympic Games are the premier adaptive sports competition, held every four years since 1960. In 2016, the event was hosted in Rio de Janeiro, marking the first time Brazil hosted the Games. This study analyzed 200 news articles published on the "Lance!" website during the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, focusing on the distribution of news by sport and type of disability. Track and Field and Swimming were the most highlighted sports, reflecting the number of medals and records achieved by Brazilian athletes. The study also noted that, in addition to the number of achievements, factors such as athlete popularity and historical tradition influenced media coverage. Sports such as Goalball and Five-a-Side Football, despite having fewer medals, also received extensive coverage due to their impact on the national sports scene. The analysis concludes that the visibility given to sports is closely linked to athletic performance, athlete prominence, and the competition calendar. The study suggests that future investigations should consider not only coverage by major portals but also the growing role of social media in disseminating information about the Paralympic Games. Received: 2024/06/08 Reformulated: 2024/08/29 Accepted: 2024/08/29

Factors influencing the relationship between coaches and athletes with disabilities: a systematic review.

The relationship between coaches and athletes with disabilities is critical for enhancing athletes' performance and psychosocial well-being. This study aims to provide evidence-based recommendations for coaches, sports organizations, and policymakers dedicated to supporting athletes with disabilities. A comprehensive analysis of existing literature was conducted. Five databases were searched, including PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Google Scholar, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure. A total of 22 studies were included for thematic analysis. This systematic review identifies key factors influencing the coach-athlete relationship in disabled sports. These factors are categorized into three main domains: professional, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. In the professional domain, effective coaching requires sport-specific skills and adaptive techniques tailored to the unique needs of athletes with disabilities. Coaches must understand the technical and tactical aspects of each parasport and adapt training plans to optimize performance and foster independence. The interpersonal domain emphasizes communication strategies and team-building practices. Effective communication involves understanding athletes' needs and adapting approaches to maximize strengths. Building rapport, managing conflict, and fostering a supportive team environment are crucial for maintaining a positive coach-athlete relationship. The intrapersonal domain highlights the importance of self-reflection and continuous learning. Coaches who engage in self-reflection and professional development better understand their behaviors and biases, enabling them to tailor coaching strategies to the specific needs of athletes with disabilities. Continuous learning is essential for remaining responsive to the evolving needs of these athletes. This review underscores the importance of a holistic approach that integrates professional expertise, interpersonal skills, and intrapersonal awareness. By addressing these factors, it provides a foundation for developing more effective coaching strategies and supports for athletes with disabilities, ultimately enhancing their performance and well-being. Future research should explore cultural differences, the specific coaching needs of athletes with intellectual disabilities, and the impact of policies and structural barriers on the coach-athlete relationship in disabled sports.

Psychological Well-Being of Young Athletes with Physical Disabilities: A Systematic Review.

Currently, young people with disabilities practice less sport than people without disabilities, which is a risk to their health and affects their well-being. The aim of this research was to identify the specific dimensions and tools used to measure psychological well-being (PWB) in young athletes with physical disabilities and to analyze the influence of sport. A systematic review was conducted using PUBMED/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Sportdiscus databases, and the search was completed without limitation to any specific year, including results up to and including 29 May, 2023. A total of 2112 articles were obtained in the initial search. Eligibility criteria were: (i) athletes with a physical disability, (ii) performing adapted and non-adapted physical activity and/or sport, (iii) the study aimed to analyse well-being, and (iv) outcomes of psychological well-being variables were identified. Exclusion criteria were (i) people with injury or transient difficulty, (ii) rehabilitative physical activity, and (iii) the results did not show any psychological well-being variables or mentions. This review identified that the most used dimension was mastery of the environment, together with the autonomy. All studies showed a positive correlation between sport practice and psychological well-being. Five measurement tools were identified knowing the state of psychological well-being of young athletes with disabilities is essential to promote successful participation in sports activities.

S09-1: The Experiences of People with Disabilities in Sport & Physical Activity

S09-1: The Experiences of People with Disabilities in Sport & Physical Activity

Disability Sports and Martial Arts Through Newspaper Articles from 1990 to 2023

Disability Sports and Martial Arts Through Newspaper Articles from 1990 to 2023

Body Composition, Nutrition and Hydration Profile of Paralympic Athletes

Paralympic athletes are separated from healthy athletes by having various diseases/disabilities and using auxiliary equipment. This study was planned to compare paralympic athletes' hydration, body composition, and nutritional status. For this purpose, a comparison of branches, sex, and nutritional habits on training day and non-training day were examined by 66 professional athletes from the Turkish Physically Disabled Sports Federation included in the research. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, nutritional habits, and physical activity data of individuals were collected. Dietary, physical activity, and water balance scale records were determined to evaluate the nutritional, physical activity, and hydration status of these athletes, respectively. Food consumption data were analyzed with the Nutrition Information System (BeBis) in detail; energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, water, vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, and iron were examined. Measuring mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a good indicator of skeletal muscle protein mass. While women’s MUAC was 28.9±3.8 cm and men’s MUAC was 30.7±7.0 cm, respectively. When the reference values recommended for healthy athletes are met, it has been observed that protein, carbohydrate, iron, and calcium didn’t meet the recommendations. Carbohydrate, dietary vitamin D, calcium and magnesium values were found to be higher on the training day than on the non-training day (p0.05). The hydration status of the athletes was found to be inadequate in all conditions of gender, branch and the presence or absence of training.

Memahami Tantangan dan Strategi Pengembangan Profesionalisme Guru dalam Mengajar Pendidikan Jasmani Adaptif

Physical, social and personal health, especially for children with special needs. This is important so that children can develop optimally according to their abilities. However, the teaching of adaptive physical education also brings many challenges for teachers. Limited space and equipment make it difficult to achieve an inclusive environment for all students. To meet these challenges, teachers must improve their professional skills through specialized training, teamwork, comprehensive curriculum development, improved accessibility of facilities and individualized teaching methods. The purpose of this teacher professional development strategy is to improve teachers' skills in the field of adaptive sports education and ensure that all students, including students with special needs, have a good opportunity to enter physical education. In this way, teachers can provide educational services according to the needs and abilities of each student. In addition, this study uses qualitative research methods to describe and analyze phenomena, events, social activities, attitudes, beliefs, perceptions and thoughts of individuals or groups. Through extensive data collection and in-depth analysis, this study provides a better understanding of the challenges and strategies related to teacher professional development in the field of adaptive physical education. Therefore, adaptive physical education plays an important role in improving the physical, social and emotional well-being of students with special needs. However, to achieve this, further efforts are needed to develop teachers' professional skills and make physical education accessible to all students.

Concussion in Parasport: A Narrative Review of Research Published since the Concussion in Para Sport (CIPS) Group Statement (2021).

Sports-related concussion (SRC) is an injury whereby impact to the face/head/neck impairs cognitive functioning. Parasport athletes have an increased risk for SRC. The Previous Concussion in Sport Group iterations lack guidance for parasport SRC assessment, management, and return-to-play. This article aims to investigate the research relating to parasport SRCs published since the 2021 Concussion in Para Sport (CIPS) position statement and highlights possible new recommendations. A literature review of parasport concussions was conducted. Articles citing the 2021 publication and/or published since then were reviewed. Relevant data were extracted and discussed in this article. Since 2021, twelve (n = 12) articles emerged investigating parasport SRC. Parasport athletes experience greater concussion symptoms and severity scores compared to able-bodied athletes. Visually impaired athletes account for >50% of parasport SRCs. Wheelchair basketball and rugby have the highest SRC incidence rates across parasports. Current SRC assessment methodologies are not designed with consideration of parasport athletes' unique experiences. Guidelines lack a return-to-learning protocol, making returning to education/work challenging for such athletes. Understanding these athletes' SRC experiences is paramount in supporting their recovery. Specific guidelines for SRC assessment, management, return-to-play, and return-to-learn for parasport athletes are necessary to enhance their rehabilitation and avoid the occurrence of long-term symptoms.

Prevalence of urinary incontinence in Brazilian para athletes

ObjectiveTo describe the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in para athletes in Brazil.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study with Brazilian para athletes with physical impairments from all para sports. The data...

Assessment of Organizational Capacity and Challenges in Disability Sports Participation by Secondary School Students with Special Needs in Ibadan, Nigeria

The study assessed organizational capacity and challenges in disability sports participation by secondary school students with special needs in Ibadan, Nigeria. The tested independent variables were organizational predators variables of strategic planning, network capacity, logistics, funding sources, sports infrastructure, interest of coaches and knowledge of organizing personnel while disability sport participation was used as the dependent variable. Strategic planning (ß=0.289, t=2.816, p=0.008), logistics (ß=0.612, t=7.103, p=0.000), interest of coaches (ß=0.536, t=7.795, p=0.000) and knowledge of organizing personnel (ß=0.500, t=7.836, p=0.000) were independently tested significantly on disability sport participation while network capacity (ß=0.171, t=1.772, p=0.085), funding sources (ß=0.082, t=1.360, p=0.182) and sports infrastructure (ß=0.111, t=1.948, p=0.059) are not independently tested significant on disability sport participation. There is a composite joint contribution of strategic planning, network capacity, infrastructure, funding, logistics, interest of coaches, and knowledge of organizing personnel on disability sports participation in schools of individuals with special needs in Ibadan, Nigeria (F(7,39)=100.210, p=0.00). The result also generated a coefficient multiple regression of R=0.977 and R2 =0.955; implying that about 95.5% of variance was accounted for by the independent variable. Strategic planning, logistics, interest of coaches, and knowledge of organizing personnel variables individually and collectively showed a positive contribution to disability sport participation, hence, there is a need to consider them on the subject of disability sport participation in schools of individuals with special needs in Ibadan, Nigeria.

The influence of performance in training on self-confidence of wheelchair athletes with coach-athlete intimacy as a moderating variable

This study aims to analyse the self-confidence of wheelchair basketball, tennis, badminton, and archery athletes. This study uses a moderated regression analysis (MRA) approach, namely performance in training as independent variable, self-confidence as a dependent variable, and coach-athlete intimacy as a moderator. Sampling was done using total sampling at the open tournament championship. The wheelchair athletes involved were 20 basketball athletes, 15 tennis athletes, 15 badminton athletes, and 15 archery athletes age 29.98±2.4 with 11.37±1.2 years of training. The highest experience of the competition is that 37 athletes have participated at the national and international level. This study was conducted for six months from early June to November 2023. The data were collected using questionnaires that were confirmed and given before the match and semi-structured interviews to strengthen the discussion. The instrument consists of 57 items, and an Aiken V validity value of 0.863 and Cronbach’s Alpha value of 0.708 were obtained. The results showed that performance in training influenced self-confidence (sig. 0.003 or p<0.05) and (R2 = 12.8%). Meanwhile, the coach-athlete intimacy can positively moderate the performance of the coach-athlete with self-confidence (sig. 0.000 or p<0.05) and (R2 = 47.2%). The results of this study suggest the involvement of government agencies to foster, develop, and facilitate all individuals with special needs. In addition, it is necessary to increase the competence of coaches through special training or by opening a coach study program for coaching people with disability at the university. Further research should consider the number of samples involved and how to collect data with a research design adapted to the circumstances but can produce accurate data. Keywords: Training Performance, Self-Confidence, Coach-Athlete Intimacy, Wheelchair