Obstacles and Possibilities for Participation in Sport after Spinal Cord Injury

Research background and hypothesis. Studies have shown that persons after spinal cord injury rarely continue participating in sport (Stryker, Burke, 2000; Hanson, Nabavi, 2001; Stephan, Brewer, 2007). This could be caused by the obstacles that the persons face due to the motor disorder after spinal cord injury (Wu, Williams, 2001; Tasiemski et al., 2004). Hypothesis: persons with spinal cord injury while being involved in disabled sport face the same problems irrespectively of gender. Research aim was to determine the obstacles and possibilities for involvement and participation in sport after spinal cord injury.Research methods. The questionnaire method was used to collect sport participation data (Tasiemski et al., 2004) and determine socialization agents of persons after spinal cord injury (Williams, 1994). The athletic identity assessment scale (Brewer, Cornelius, 2002) was used in the research. Research results. Data showed that the majority of the subjects after spinal cord injury were not involved in sport; 11.9% did sports 1 hour per week, 13.2% – 2–3 hours per week, 10.6% – more than 6 hours per week. The value of athletic identity of paraplegic subjects was equal to 23 points, and that of tetraplegic subjects – 18 points (statistically significant data difference between the two groups when p < 0.05). It was found that athletic identity value of men after spinal cord injury (22 points) was statistically significantly higher compared to that of women (16 points, p < 0.05). Lack of adapted sport facilities – 49.6%, equipment – 53.2%, coaches – 48.4% and financial resources – 42.0% proved to be the major obstacles to participate in sport for persons after spinal cord injury.    Discussion and conclusions. According to the research, only a minority of persons after spinal cord injury identified  themselves  as  athletes.  It  was  found  that  the  main  social  agents  involving  disabled  persons  into  the mainstream of sport were other disabled persons, rehabilitation and physical therapists, coaches and other sports professionals.  Persons  after  spinal  cord  injury  believed  that  the  main  reasons  of  non-participation  in  sport  was lack  of  information  about  disabled  sport,  also  lack  of  sports  equipment,  financial  problems    and  lack  of  sports professionals. Most persons after spinal cord injury participated or would participate in sport with the aim of getting fit, strengthening the upper body part, socializing, feeling the joy of life. The majority of results of the study were similar to the results of other researchers (Tasiemski et al., 2004) who analyzed disabled persons’ problems while involving in sport.Keywords: involvement in disabled sport, athletic identity, social agents.