Table 4. Potential advantages and disadvantages of sports participation for people with disabilities.
| Categories | Example quotes |
|---|---|
| Potential advantages (n=153 respondents) | |
| Improves overall health and quality of life. n=129 (84.3%), HIC=65 (50.4%), MIC=64 (49.6%) |
‘Increased muscle strength, improved balance and motor skills, enhanced heart health and higher energy levels.’ ‘I feel people with any disability are in stressful situations. To overcome that and distract them, they can use sports. At the same time, it releases natural endorphins.’ |
| Self-confidence/self-esteem and self-satisfaction. n=44 (28.8%), HIC=24 (54.5%), MIC=20 (45.4%) |
‘Boosting self-confidence and esteem.’ |
| Social relationships and inclusion. n=36 (23.5%), HIC=27 (75.0%), MIC=9 (25.0%) |
‘Providing a feeling of belonging to the community.’ ‘Improve social participation.’ |
| Prevents disability-related complications and supports rehabilitation. n=13 (8.5%), HIC=4 (30.8%), MIC=9 (69.2%) |
‘They can build up their muscle mass and strength to prevent mobility-insured sarcopenia, and they can prevent being obese and getting NCDs.’ |
| Improves independence and function. n=11 (7.2%), HIC=10 (90.9%), MIC=1 (9.1%) |
‘Enhances functional independence’ |
| Potential disadvantages (n=150 respondents) | |
| Increased risk of injury. n=69 (46.0%), HIC=34 (49.3%), MIC=35 (50.7%) |
‘Risk of sports-related injuries, eg, overuse injuries of upper extremities’ |
| Increased risk of disability-related complications. n=28 (18.7%), HIC=15 (53.6%), MIC=13 (46.4%) |
‘Possibility of getting medical complications during sports activities, e.g. Autonomic Dysreflexia and pressure sores in spinal cord injury’ ‘Some sports activities can be harmful to a particular disability; swimming can be harmful to TBI with seizures.’ |
| The need for appropriate support and special facilities. n=14 (9.3%), HIC=9 (64.3%), MIC=5 (35.1%) | ‘Someone has to assist them continuously and they need person-specified settings.’ |
| Financial burden. n=13 (8.7%), HIC=9 (69.2%), MIC=4 (30.8%) |
‘Increased expenses and difficulty in finding assistive devices compatible with sports.’ |
| Negative impact on mental well-being. n=10 (6.7%), HIC=6 (60.0%), MIC=4 (40.0%) |
‘Competitive sports could have a negative impact on their psychological well-being.’ |
| No associated disadvantages. n=17 (11.3%), HIC=10 (58.8%), MIC=7 (41.2%) | ‘I do not see any disadvantages’ ‘If the person involved in the right sport suitable for his disability, with adequate safety measures and proper guidance, I think there are no disadvantages’ |
HIC, high-income country; MIC, middle-income country; NCD, non communicable diseases.