What are adapted sports?

Author: Sharon Jang | Reviewer: Courtney Pollock | Published: 18 October 2023 | Updated: ~

Adapted sports are sports that can be played with equipment and approaches that are adapted to a person’s physical abilities. Many adapted sports have been altered in one of many ways to promote accessibility. Some of these adaptations include changes to the rules of a game, modifications in the equipment, or specialized equipment to allow you to partake in a sport.

There are different levels of adapted sports, ranging from recreational (or just for fun and fitness) to competition. Should you want to become competitive, classifications are used to ensure that competition is equal and fair. Classifications are used to determine which athletes should be grouped together. In adapted sports, classification is based on function (e.g., strength, how many limbs are affected by injury, range of movement, tone/spasticity). This is similar to categorizing by age, gender, or weight in able-bodied sports.

While trying out new sports can be fun and exciting, skin health is an important consideration. Trialing new sports is often associated with trying new equipment. When trying new equipment, it is important to check for red marks or pressure spots on your skin including your seat and any area of the body positioned against equipment (e.g., footrest or frame). People will commonly use the cushion from their everyday chair in their sport chair when they first try a sport. However, it is important to remember that although it is the same cushion, you may be sitting in a different position (e.g., seat angle) which will change pressure and potential forces from rubbing. The best approach is like that of trialing a new wheelchair or cushion: frequently check your skin in the early days of your new sport. This means that it is best to start with shorter sessions and work your way up in time once you know that your skin can tolerate the new equipment and positions. In water sports such as kayaking, or in rainy conditions for outdoor sports, make sure to check your skin when you are done since being wet can make the skin more prone to injury.

Additionally, you may want to consider the influence of temperature (extreme hot or cold weather), as temperature regulation may be impaired with an SCI.

Refer to our article on Pressure Injuries for more information!