|
|
|
PARAPLEGIC SPORT AND RECREATION
With their bio-psycho-social value, sport and recreation for paraplegics have a very important place in our organization.
Individuals obtain the basic information about the importance of sport and recreation during the time of their medical rehabilitation, as representatives of the Association of Paraplegics acquaint them then with its activity and programmes, with their return to their home environment and their inclusion in local paraplegics' branches throughout Slovenia. Sport is an indispensable method in modern rehabilitation, and especially after medical rehabilitation is completed, it has an invaluable therapeutic value in renewing the paraplegic's lost powers, in helping coordination and maintaining stamina.
The permanent consequences of invalidness demand constant action and movement. Only within the framework of the organization is it possible to have organized, professionally led and planned activity as regards the degree to which the spinal cord is affected.
Paraplegic sport already has an established place in Slovene sport. It is no longer necessary to argue why it is essential or who it is intended for, since the organization has achieved a reliably satisfactory level and excellent results.
For thirty years we have been present at the very top of world sport. This means we Slovene paraplegics have taken part in European championships, world championships, the Olympic Games, and other international meetings, where we have won all possible awards.
The trend of development in paraplegic sport in the world only goes to confirm the need of paraplegics for competitive sport as well, since even the most disabled groups are involved in it. The principle holds that paraplegics with comparable functional abilities compete in different types of sport, such as wheelchair basketball, athletics, table tennis, tennis, swimming, rifle shooting, bowls, sport fishing, chess, wheelchair dancing, etc.
An interdisciplinary approach is essential, involving the cooperation of the profession, sports instructors, doctors, psychologists, social workers, therapists, and so on.
The Association of Paraplegics has well-organized exercise and implements sport and recreation activities within its branches. All this is available two or three times weekly with transport provided in appropriately equipped minibuses. Here it is important, of course, that such exercise is carried out in sports facilities with wheelchair access.
Fifty percent of our members are included in these various forms of sport (both recreative and competitive). Naturally the emphasis is on recreation where all members can participate in different activities (social gatherings, renewed rehabilitation). From such mass participation competition teams are formed for collective and individual sports.
The organization makes possible all the conditions for progress, all the care for organized activity, the purchase of suitable sports equipment and all professional and other kinds of help.
Years of experience show that the state of health of those who regularly and systematically engage in sport and recreation is incomparably better than that of their colleagues who tend to neglect them. Understandably, various factors are present with individuals, such as their socio-economic situation, their state of health, the matter of motivation, architectural difficulties, transport. Certainly, individuals have a positive opinion about sport and recreation (even if they did not have such an opinion before their injury).
Thus the Association of Paraplegics has been responsible for and has organized sport for paraplegics in Slovenia for more than thirty years. Such long experience constantly offers new challenges, which we take up to the advantage of Slovene paraplegics.
|
our email : zveza.paraplegikov@guest.arnes.si
Optimum resolution: 1024x768 / IE5
| |
|
 |
| © 2000 - 2001 webdesign by Benjamin Žnidaršič |
|
