Adaptive Skiing/Snowboarding Affects the Quality of Life of Children With Disabilities

Authors

  • David Frumberg
  • Alexis Gerk
  • Patrick Autruong

Keywords:

Adaptive recreation, adaptive sports, cerebral palsy, disabilities, quality of life, skiing

Abstract

Aim: To examine the impact of participation in an adaptive ski and snowboard program on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL).

Methods: Participants completed the KIDSCREEN-52 HRQL questionnaire prior to and upon completion of a winter sport season. The questionnaire was distributed for five seasons. Participants who completed three or more years were further analyzed as a long-term cohort.

Results: Seventy-six athletes met inclusion criteria. After one year, athletes demonstrated significant improvement in physical well-being and bullying; guardians reported improvement in six of the 10 HRQL domains. Twenty-nine athletes met criteria for the long-term cohort, reporting significant improvements in financial resources, peers and social support, and bullying, but a significant decrease in self-perception. Parents reported improvements in financial resources and bullying.

Conclusions: Perceived changes in HRQL of children with disabilities are evident after one season of participation, and guardians are more likely to report significant improvements than child-athletes.

Subscribe to PALAESTRA

Published

2019-08-22

Issue

Section

Feature Articles