Zachariah G Whiting1, David Falk2, Jonathan Lee3,4, Beth Weinman5, Jesse M Pines6, Kenneth Lee4,5. 1. School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA. 2. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 3. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. 4. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. 5. Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. 6. US Acute Care Solutions, Canton, Ohio, USA.
Abstract
Objective: This study aims to describe United States military veteran participation in adaptive sports and to assess the demographic make-up and organizational characteristics of existing adaptive sports programs.Design: Prospective, cross-sectional survey.Setting: Community organizations with adaptive sports programs.Participants: 85 adaptive sports programs.Interventions: Nine question survey.Outcome Measures: Demographic data and sports offered by adaptive sports programs in the United States. Results: The survey response rate was 70%. The median number of total participants in an organization was 75 and the median number of veterans was 50. 76% of organizations had some degree of affiliation with a VAMC. Organizations affiliated with a VAMC are more likely to be rehabilitation centers, whereas community organizations with no VAMC affiliation are most commonly independent organizations with no rehabilitation component. Individuals of all ages participate in adaptive sports, with increasing participation associated with increasing age. Golf was the sport offered most commonly by adaptive sports programs in this survey. Low-contact sports were offered more often than high-contact sports, and the majority of programs offered adaptive sports year-round.Conclusions: Our results suggest that U.S. Military veterans represent a large proportion of the individuals participating in adaptive sports. Further research specifically focusing on factors veterans find desirable when considering participating in adaptive sports is indicated to identify programs that should be promoted, developed, and funded to increase veteran participation in adaptive sports.
Objective: This study aims to describe United States military veteran participation in adaptive sports and to assess the demographic make-up and organizational characteristics of existing adaptive sports programs.Design: Prospective, cross-sectional survey.Setting: Community organizations with adaptive sports programs.Participants: 85 adaptive sports programs.Interventions: Nine question survey.Outcome Measures: Demographic data and sports offered by adaptive sports programs in the United States. Results: The survey response rate was 70%. The median number of total participants in an organization was 75 and the median number of veterans was 50. 76% of organizations had some degree of affiliation with a VAMC. Organizations affiliated with a VAMC are more likely to be rehabilitation centers, whereas community organizations with no VAMC affiliation are most commonly independent organizations with no rehabilitation component. Individuals of all ages participate in adaptive sports, with increasing participation associated with increasing age. Golf was the sport offered most commonly by adaptive sports programs in this survey. Low-contact sports were offered more often than high-contact sports, and the majority of programs offered adaptive sports year-round.Conclusions: Our results suggest that U.S. Military veterans represent a large proportion of the individuals participating in adaptive sports. Further research specifically focusing on factors veterans find desirable when considering participating in adaptive sports is indicated to identify programs that should be promoted, developed, and funded to increase veteran participation in adaptive sports.
Entities:
Keywords:
Adaptive sports; Participation rates; Sports participation; Veterans; Veterans affairs medical center
Authors: Ranak B Trivedi; Edward P Post; Haili Sun; Andrew Pomerantz; Andrew J Saxon; John D Piette; Charles Maynard; Bruce Arnow; Idamay Curtis; Stephan D Fihn; Karin Nelson Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2015-10-16 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Cheri A Blauwet; Heidi Y Yang; Sebastian A Cruz; Jamie E Collins; Karen C Smith; Elena Losina; Jeff N Katz Journal: PM R Date: 2016-11-01 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Emma C Lape; Jeffrey N Katz; Elena Losina; Hannah M Kerman; Marissa A Gedman; Cheri A Blauwet Journal: PM R Date: 2017-10-27 Impact factor: 2.298
Authors: Michelle L Sporner; Shirley G Fitzgerald; Brad E Dicianno; Diane Collins; Emily Teodorski; Paul F Pasquina; Rory A Cooper Journal: Disabil Rehabil Date: 2009 Impact factor: 3.033