The Disabled Athlete in Ball Sports

Abstract

The literature is relatively limited in regard to injury in specific Paralympic sports with few longitudinal studies. Notwithstanding this there are patterns of injuries related to the Paralympic ball sports that may impact not only on sport participation but also on the ability to perform activities of daily living. With three of the sports: sitting volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair rugby, the hand is not only involved in playing the ball but also the interface that produces movement around the court. Consequently injuries can occur from propulsion or the ball and injury will impact on both. With visually impaired athletes in goalball injuries to the hand can occur in contact with the court surface or teammate but also from the ball. The absence of vision means that timing of blocking the ball may be imperfect and hyperextension or flexion injuries may result. Athletes with cerebral palsy playing boccia are unlikely to have an injury to the hand from sport participation but injury outside of sport or changes in tone can impact on sport performance. Disability sports bring a new perspective to injury risk through different sports, sports equipment, regulations and underlying impairment types.