DISABILITY SPORTS LONDON AND ESSEX
Monday 10th February 2025
Gemma B
UNDERSTANDING DISABILITY SPORTS
The power of sport and physical activity has the power to change lives. That does not have to be any different for those who have a disability. There are two key types of disability sports, inclusive sports and adaptive sports. The goal of inclusive sports is to enable disabled athletes to play or participate with able-bodied, as equals. While adaptive sports make modifications, which may include equipment or rule adjustments to allow inclusion, without removing enjoyment or competitiveness. There are multiple clubs across London and Essex that have made modifications to conventional sports to meet the needs of those with physical, cognitive or sensory disabilities.
EQUIPMENT IN ADAPTIVE SPORTS
Equipment and assistive technology in disability sports can be as simple as a modified version of the equipment typically seen, such as lighter racket in tennis or a prosthetic brace to protect a joint. On the other hand, it could be highly sophisticated technology or equipment such as electric hand-cycling. The advancement of equipment in recent years has played a key role in turning disability sports from recreational activities into competitive events, that are watched and celebrated worldwide. Just as with any sport, the equipment and technology must follow rules and regulations determined by the governing body.
ELITE DISABILITY SPORTS
If you are new to the world of disability sports and want to know more, it is highly recommended that you watch previous footage of the Paralympics for inspiration. Paralympics are the main international multi-sport event for elite disabled athletes. The athletes compete in several categories, ranging from physical, to vision to intellectual impairments. They are held every four years, after the summer and winter Olympic Games. Below are listed a few other, well known competitive disability sporting events: Invictus games, founded by Price Harry is an international, multi-sport event for wounded or injured military personnel.
HOW DO ADAPTIVE SPORTS AND PHYSIOTHERAPY COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER
Adaptive sport are not solely recreational, they serve as an extension of Physiotherapy and can often be seen as a way to do “Sneaky rehab”. Adaptive sports can often serve as a way to maintain cardiovascular fitness or when it comes to physical injuries, increase the strength of the areas of the body that are able to easily function. One in four people in the UK have an impairment. Three in four people with a disability want to be more active. Here are some of the ways disability sports can help:
STRENGTH: Physiotherapy often focuses on restoring physical function and prevention of secondary complications. Adaptive sports can often work on all of the things being worked on in Physiotherapy sessions, such as flexibility, strength, balance and endurance.
COGNITIVE: Activities such as wheelchair tennis, will require rapid decision making, meaning the brain and the body have to work together to react, this is known as dual tasking and can help increase the sense of body control.
PSYCHOLOGICAL: Physical and mental health go hand and hand, with depression, anxiety and loneliness. Adaptive sports can increase confidence, reduce stress and create opportunities to meet like-minded people who may have a similar life experience.
COMMUNITY: Adaptive sports are a way of bringing people together, reclaiming independence and making them feel connected.
FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE: Adaptive sports can ease functional independence in day to day tasks. For example, to partake in kayaking, you may need to get on and off the floor, which will help with transferring between different height surfaces at home.
IMPLEMENTING A DISABILITY SPORTS PROGRAMME
Assessment - Our Physiotherapists are able to support you with identifying adaptive sports that may interest you, based on your strengths, limitations and physical condition, considering avoiding overexercision or injury.
Signposting - We are able to signpost you to adaptive sports coaches and community organisations that can provide sport specific advice.
Action planning - Like any return to sports programme, there should be a graded programme, which gradually becomes more intense over time. It may be that the Physiotherapist starts by breaking down tasks which the sport, to help you build towards participation.
Monitoring - Regularly reassessing outcomes, health and physical function to make recommendations on sporting adaptations, equipment or areas needing further work within therapy sessions.
Overcoming challenges:
While disability sports offer a wide range of benefits, barriers such as financial costs, accessibility, logistics and societal stigma can hinder involvement. Our Physiotherapists can work closely to ensure facilities are appropriate to your needs and collaborate with the right teams to help organise transport options. Adaptive equipment and braces can be expensive but non-profit organisations, grants and funding initiatives can help subsidise costs.
BOOKING AN APPOINTMENT
If you would like to find out more about Estuary Physios Orthopaedic service, please get in touch with us today and speak with one of our clinicians.
https://www.estuaryphysio.com/book-now
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OTHER CONDITIONS WE TREAT
We understand that our clients often have a range of medical conditions. Our therapists have a broad range of backgrounds. For example, someone who needs an arthroscopy may also find they are having other musculoskeletal aches and pains such as back pain. Find a list of our services here:
