Presenter Status
Fellow
Abstract Type
Research
Primary Mentor
Mark Fisher
Start Date
12-5-2023 11:30 AM
End Date
12-5-2023 1:30 PM
Presentation Type
Abstract
Description
Background: Adaptive downhill skiing has been described as a fun, safe, engaging recreational activity for those with disabilities (Sterba, 2006). There are numerous ways the alpine skiing can be modified to meet these athletes’ needs. For instance, athletes can use tethered skis, horizontal poles held by their instructors, or modified walkers. For those that have poor standing balance, or are non-ambulatory, sit-skis are an option, with or without outriggers to add additional support and balance for athletes with poor trunk stability or core strength. These options provide equal and accessible alternatives for those with disabilities to get out and enjoy the winter slopes. However, is there more to adaptive winter sports than just the fun in the snow? While adaptive skiing has been around for a long time, the literature of its benefits remains minimal. Nasuti and Temple (2010) demonstrated that there is scarce literature about individuals with disabilities and the empirical benefits of skiing or snowboarding; however, the available research has repeat themes, which demonstrate that athletes involved in adaptive sports gain significant improvements in quality of life, physical well-being, strength, endurance, cardiovascular health, psychological well-being, mood, social interaction and perception of health.
Objectives: The primary aim of this project was to determine the progress of participants in an adaptive snow sports program for children and young adults with disabilities. The secondary goal of this study was to determine the common characteristics of participants in this program.
Design: Retrospective Cohort Study
Setting (Do not list formal institution name): Winter ski resort
Participants: 113 participants, who participated in at least 2 ski or snowboard sessions
Interventions: At least two adaptive ski and snowboard sessions, with trained adaptive instructors.
Main Outcome Measures: Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors skill levels (from 1-novice to 9-expert); Cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and independence scores, as rated by trained instructors on a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the highest.
Results: There were a total of 113 participants included. The median number of sessions per participant were 4 with a range from 2-65 sessions. The median duration of participation was 2 years (range 2-10 years). A Wilcoxen-rank sum test demonstrated an improvement in final skill level compared to baseline (p< 0.0001), with an average increase of 1.2 skill levels per participant with an average increase of 0.48 skill levels per year of involvement. There were also improvements from the initial session to the final session in all secondary outcomes: cognitive (p=0.07), social (p=0.002), emotional (p=0.018), physical (p< 0.0001), and independence (p< 0.0001) scores. The most common diagnoses of participants were visual impairment, blindness, autism, and spina bifida/spinal cord injury.
Conclusions: This study showed improvements in all measured domains during participation in an adaptive snow sports program. Evaluating the effectiveness of adaptive sports programs provides important information to set participants’ expectations, determines goals of the program for trainers, and shows the benefit of this program to outside entities. Level of Evidence: III
MeSH Keywords
adaptive sports; alpine skiing; disabilities
Included in
Movement and Mind-Body Therapies Commons, Pediatrics Commons, Recreational Therapy Commons, Sports Medicine Commons
Improvement on the slopes: the impact of an adaptive snow sports program on children and young adults with disabilities
Background: Adaptive downhill skiing has been described as a fun, safe, engaging recreational activity for those with disabilities (Sterba, 2006). There are numerous ways the alpine skiing can be modified to meet these athletes’ needs. For instance, athletes can use tethered skis, horizontal poles held by their instructors, or modified walkers. For those that have poor standing balance, or are non-ambulatory, sit-skis are an option, with or without outriggers to add additional support and balance for athletes with poor trunk stability or core strength. These options provide equal and accessible alternatives for those with disabilities to get out and enjoy the winter slopes. However, is there more to adaptive winter sports than just the fun in the snow? While adaptive skiing has been around for a long time, the literature of its benefits remains minimal. Nasuti and Temple (2010) demonstrated that there is scarce literature about individuals with disabilities and the empirical benefits of skiing or snowboarding; however, the available research has repeat themes, which demonstrate that athletes involved in adaptive sports gain significant improvements in quality of life, physical well-being, strength, endurance, cardiovascular health, psychological well-being, mood, social interaction and perception of health.
Objectives: The primary aim of this project was to determine the progress of participants in an adaptive snow sports program for children and young adults with disabilities. The secondary goal of this study was to determine the common characteristics of participants in this program.
Design: Retrospective Cohort Study
Setting (Do not list formal institution name): Winter ski resort
Participants: 113 participants, who participated in at least 2 ski or snowboard sessions
Interventions: At least two adaptive ski and snowboard sessions, with trained adaptive instructors.
Main Outcome Measures: Professional Ski Instructors of America and American Association of Snowboard Instructors skill levels (from 1-novice to 9-expert); Cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and independence scores, as rated by trained instructors on a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the highest.
Results: There were a total of 113 participants included. The median number of sessions per participant were 4 with a range from 2-65 sessions. The median duration of participation was 2 years (range 2-10 years). A Wilcoxen-rank sum test demonstrated an improvement in final skill level compared to baseline (p< 0.0001), with an average increase of 1.2 skill levels per participant with an average increase of 0.48 skill levels per year of involvement. There were also improvements from the initial session to the final session in all secondary outcomes: cognitive (p=0.07), social (p=0.002), emotional (p=0.018), physical (p< 0.0001), and independence (p< 0.0001) scores. The most common diagnoses of participants were visual impairment, blindness, autism, and spina bifida/spinal cord injury.
Conclusions: This study showed improvements in all measured domains during participation in an adaptive snow sports program. Evaluating the effectiveness of adaptive sports programs provides important information to set participants’ expectations, determines goals of the program for trainers, and shows the benefit of this program to outside entities. Level of Evidence: III
