The role of wheelchair basketball in enhancing re-integration of people with spinal cord injuries into the community
Date
2024-03
Authors
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: Introduction: Participation of people with spinal cord injury in wheelchair basketball has the potential to enhance re-integration back into their community. This can be done by eliminating personal barriers such as, development of secondary complications and improving physical independence, lack of psychosocial and peer support and poor self-confidence and self-esteem associated with self-isolation in people with a spinal cord injury. However, challenges such as lack of access to spinal cord injury rehabilitation facilities, poor access to recreational facilities and resources and poor family support during early rehabilitation continue to hinder their participation.
Aim: This study explored the o explore the role wheelchair basketball plays to support community re-integration of people with SCI into their community within the Western Cape Province.
Methods: A qualitative, ethnographic design was used to gather in-depth information of lived experiences of wheelchair basketball players with spinal cord injury. There was one local wheelchair basketball club that was actively running and from that club, eighteen participants were identified as eligible for the study. Of the eighteen participants, only five met the criteria of the study, and only five agreed to participate in the full study. The fifth participant withdrew from the study before data collection could commence. Two community integration questionnaires, one subjective and one objective, were completed by the four included participants followed by a semi-structured interview using an interview guide. The questionnaires were scored, and the interviews transcribed in verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to analyse all data.
Findings: The data showed that participants expressed that they integrated more into their community when they participated in a wheelchair basketball team. Three themes with sub-themes were identified and included:
Theme 1: Improved functional independence.
Theme 2: Improved inclusivity and socialization
Theme 3: Improved self-esteem and self-confidence
Conclusion: The participants experiences provided knowledge on how participating in wheelchair basketball can be used as a medium to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and successful and sustainable community re-integration for those with a spinal cord injury. Wheelchair basketball has the potential to address multiple challenges experienced by those with a spinal cord injury. Unfortunately, the sport itself is under supported by local and national government, local wheelchair basketball clubs are under-resourced and do not have the finances to successfully implement and run multiple clubs or have the platform to create awareness and promote engagement in the clubs. The recommendations propose ideas where the department of health and the department of sports and recreation can improve participation opportunities by providing resources such as safe venues, transportation, and basic equipment to the wheelchair basketball clubs that would make the sport more accessible. This could provide opportunities for awareness, growth, and sustainability of the sport, which could furthermore encourage increased participation. They could also support health and rehabilitation facilities to better create awareness and opportunities to introduce wheelchair basketball and that could be translated to integration as a part of the rehabilitation process.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geen opsomming beskikbaar.
Description
Thesis (MHumanRehabSt)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.