Effects of Power Wheelchair Soccer for Individuals Presenting With Physical Impairments

Clinical and Psychosocial Impact of Power Wheelchair Soccer for Individuals Presenting With Physical Impairments

This study is a prospective interventional study. It will be conducted at a single center with participants who have neuromotor impairments. The primary objective is to assess and measure the clinical and psychosocial effects of a season of power wheelchair soccer among its participants presenting with severe motor impairments due to neuromuscular lesion.

A maximum of twenty participants will be recruited and included in the same group. Data collection will be performed before, during, and after the wheelchair soccer season. The study will span the entire season, starting in November 2023 and ending in June 2024.

Clinical and psychosocial assessments will be conducted every 3 months. Each assessment session will last 2 hours per participant. Before and after the wheelchair soccer season matches, we will evaluate parameters related to the physical load of the sport. These evaluations will last 10 minutes per participant.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a male or female between the ages of 12 and 50.
• Presenting with severe motor impairments due to neuromotor and/or musculoskeletal impairment.
• Using a power wheelchair in everyday life.
• Being part of a power wheelchair soccer team.
• Committing to participating in the 2023-2024 season of their sport within the team.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Practicing another adaptive sport outside of power wheelchair soccer in a regular way (once a week or more).

• Occasionally practicing power wheelchair soccer (twice a month or less).

• Presenting with severe cognitive impairments affecting understanding of instructions on how to answer questionnaires and undertake tests.

• Presenting with contraindications towards the practice of an adaptive sport such as power wheelchair soccer.

  • Participating in another study at baseline.