Use of a Virtual-Technological Sailing Program to Prepare Children With Disabilities for a Real Sailing Course: Effects on Balance and Quality of Life. (July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aprile, Irene; Iacovelli, Chiara; Iuvone, Laura; Imbimbo, Isabella; Cruciani, Arianna; Pecchioli, Cristiano; Manozzi, Francesco Maria; Padua, Luca
• Is Part Of: Journal of child neurology. Volume 31:Number 8(2016:Aug.)
• Page Start: 1074
• Page End: 1080
• Publication Date: 2016-07
• Subjects: disability -- sailing -- technological rehabilitation -- balance -- quality of life; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.928
• DOI: 10.1177/0883073816638756
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-0738

Abstract

Sailing might produce a positive effect on a patient's general health and become an integrated part of rehabilitation. Our hypothesis was that a specific technological rehabilitation program might be used to prepare a group of disabled subjects for sailing. Seventeen patients (age range: 9-20) with impairments in motor coordination and balance and 15 healthy subjects participated in the study. The study was divided into the virtual-technological sailing phase, theory-practice phase, and sports phase. Proprioceptive platforms were used to evaluate balance, and the Child Health Questionnaire–PF50 was used to evaluate quality of life. Trunk displacement and the center of pressure velocity improved significantly after the virtual-technological sailing program. As regards quality of life, the physical and psychosocial score significantly improved at the end of the program. A technological rehabilitation training improved balance in disabled subjects and may be used to prepare them for a real sailing course. Sailing improves the quality of life of disabled subjects and could be used in the rehabilitation.