Research ArticleIn praise of sport: Promoting sport participation as a mechanism of health among persons with a disability
Section snippets
Sport
Sport is a universally relevant context for health. Historically, the physical, psychological, and sociocultural benefits of sport have resulted in its inclusion in therapeutic and rehabilitation programs [9], [10]. The disability rights movements of the 20th century prompted legislation that included equal opportunity in physical activity and sport. The United Nations included recreation and sport as one of eight targeted areas for worldwide equalization of opportunities for persons with
The ICF
The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on Sport for Development and Peace [18] stated that the positive correlation between sport and health required that sport become a priority in government policies and with concerned stakeholders at all levels. The Task Force, as well as other internationally focused organizations such as the International Paralympic Committee, has called for the application of a common framework for sport development that draws together a wide range of stakeholders to
Methods
Data for this secondary analysis using the ICF framework reported herein were originally collected in May 2006 (B. Wilhite, J. Shank, unpublished data, 2006). The intent of the original analysis was to explore the physical recreation and sport participation of persons with a disability and the factors influencing these experiences. This exploration was designed to record the individuals' experiences and their process of involvement in sport.
During the original analysis, various dimensions of
Body functions and structures
In successful health achievement, the components of body functions and structures, activities and participation, and contextual factors operate in a coordinated and interrelated fashion and may overlap. Therefore, narrative examples featured in the following sections may not be discrete representations of the component. For practical purposes, however, these components are presented and discussed as separate entities. With an appreciation for the full context of the interviews, a text example
Summary and conclusion
Sport is a significant mechanism for fostering physical and emotional health and building valuable social connections. Twelve individuals provided answers to questions of how sport can benefit body functions and structure, enhance capacity and performance, and facilitate participation have been obtained. These benefits include the major categories of enhanced functional capacity, health promotion, relationship development, increased optimism, and inclusion in meaningful life activities and
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Financial disclosure: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. This work was supported by a grant from the College of Health Professions, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.