Functional and Environmental Factors Are Associated With Sustained Participation in Adaptive Sports. Issue 7 (1st November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Blauwet, Cheri A.; Yang, Heidi Y.; Cruz, Sebastian A.; Collins, Jamie E.; Smith, Karen C.; Losina, Elena; Katz, Jeff N.
• Is Part Of: PM&R. Volume 9:Issue 7(2017)
• Page Start: 668
• Page End: 675
• Publication Date: 2016-11-01
• Subjects: Medical rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Physical therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy Modalities -- Periodicals; 615.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2016.10.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1934-1482

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Although community‐based adaptive sports have become a popular means of rehabilitation for individuals with disabilities, little is known regarding the factors that lead to sustained participation. Objective: To determine the demographic, environmental, disability‐related, and functional factors associated with sustained participation in a community‐based adaptive sports program. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Community‐based adaptive sports program. Participants: Adults with mobility‐related disabilities. Methods: Data were collected from registration forms and participation logs. Participants were described as "sustainers" if they attended ≥2 sessions, or as "nonsustainers" if they attended 0 or 1 session. We examined the associations between sustained participation and demographic, environmental, disability‐related, and functional factors in bivariate and multivariable analyses. Main Outcome Measurement: Sustained participation in the adaptive sports program. Results: Of the 134 participants, 78 (58%) were sustainers and 56 (42%) were nonsustainers. In multivariable analyses, participants who ambulated independently had lower odds of being sustainers (odds ratio [OR] = 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.11, 0.96), and those who used an ambulatory assistive device had twice the odds of being sustainers (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 0.65, 6.2) compared to those who used a manual wheelchair. Moreover, participants who lived within 5.3 miles of the program site (OR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.1, 13.0) and those who lived between 5.3 and 24.4 miles from the program site (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.0, 7.7) had significantly higher odds of sustained participation than those who lived more than 24.4 miles from the program site. Conclusion: Sustained participation in community‐based adaptive sports is associated with living closer to the program site and the presence of a moderate level of functional impairment. These findings suggest that programs might consider increasing the number of satellite sites and expanding offerings for individuals with mild or more significant mobility‐related disabilities to effectively increase program participation. Level of Evidence: II