Facts About Wheelchair Athletes
Athletes with a disability that prevents them from walking participate in sports created for wheelchair users. The most common sports that are popular with wheelchair athletes include basketball, football, curling and fencing. Other sports that are played by athletes in wheelchairs include tennis, hockey and racing.
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History
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Disabled athletes began competing in sports competitions in the 1940s as young veterans from World War II returned home unable to walk. These were young, vital men who still had plenty of energy and had not lost their zeal for competition. Wheelchair sports became more mainstream and visible when the first National Wheelchair Games were played in New York. The Paralympics since have provided wheelchair athletes with an international stage on which to play.
Competitiveness
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Wheelchair athletes typically are paraplegic, able to use their arms for mobility and to handle the balls and sticks required in various sports, although quadriplegic athletes can be found competing in a number of arenas. A number of leagues are available for children to begin participating as early as they want. There are no professional wheelchair sports leagues, so disabled athletes tend to display a deep satisfaction in the activities and derive an added sense of accomplishment from the games.
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Chairs
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Various types of wheelchairs have been devised to accommodate athletic competitions. Typically lightweight and made of titanium or aluminum, the chairs are compact without the handles and brakes often found on regular chairs. The chairs can vary from sport to sport. Because they are so expensive, athletes often use the same chair for playing different sports as well as for everyday use. Serious athletes commonly use customized sport wheelchairs.
Training
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Like all other athletes, wheelchair-bound sports enthusiasts must maintain a level of conditioning exercise to remain competitive and avoid injuries. Shoulder and arm pain is often cited as one of the common problems associated with wheelchair sports because of the level of stress placed on the upper body joints. Excess pounds can make it more difficult to maneuver their chairs, so wheelchair athletes must maintain a light weight.
Rules
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Most wheelchair sports participants must follow a strict code when playing in their sport. While they may vary from sport to sport, some common rules include a limit on the height of the chair, the use of cushions and other peripheral devices, and regulation heel straps and belts. Play is usually suspended in most games when a player falls out of the chair, and rules are in place to make allowances for levels of disability. Fouls are called for interference with an opponent's wheelchair in just about all but the most extreme sports activities.
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Resources
- Photo Credit http://andrewbeierle.com/
