Working with Disabled Athletes

[Guest guest]

This discussion from the Sportpsy list may be of interest to some members

here:

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Does anyone currently work with disabled athletes? I have been asked to

speak to the instructors at an adaptive sports center and I would like some

insight into what issues (aside from the normal performance enhancement

issues) they may be facing.

I would also like to know if anyone knows of any research conducted with this

population?

L. Ludlum, Ph.D.

Western State College

Gymnasium

Gunnison, CO

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Dr. Ludlum,

You might want to go back to a couple of articles in The Sport Psychologist

by Asken, who is a psychologist and does sport psychology work in

burg Pennsylvania. I believe they were in 1989, 1991. I believe there

was also an Asken and Jerry May article around that same time period. Human

Kinetics published a text on disability and sport by Depauw and Gauron in

1995.

We work regularly with Paralympians at the Olympic Training Centers, and at

the elite level, the performance issues are very similar to so called

able-bodied Olympians. With spinal cord injuries, there are a number of

interesting potential interactions with the autonomic nervous system, blood

pressure, heat regulation, and heart rate, respiration, and performance.

There actually is a dangerous physiological strategy that some spinal cord

injured athletes use to enhance performance. Of course, there are also

special issues for athletes with vision impairments, amputees, and athletes

with cerebral palsy. Generally, though, most of the sport psych work we do

with any elite athlete is applicable with Paralympians.

Depending on the history of the disabled athlete, there are frequent issues

regarding the meaning of sports to these athletes. There is no hope of ever

getting any financial reward for their efforts, and this often results in

conflicts with work, spouse, and sense of self. In addition, it is worth

doing a check on years in sport and years in Paralympic sport. There is a

big difference between those who have grown up with a disability and always

competed as a Paralympian, versus those who became disabled and have taken up

Paralympic sport only after injury or illness. A skiier who only has 3 years

on the snow in a mono-ski but raced motocross bikes for 8 years before

getting a spinal cord injury (not an unusual story), may have much better

mental skills than technical skiing ability.

All in all, you will probably find that working with disabled athletes is

among the most personally and professionally rewarding ways to use your

training and expertise. Have fun!

McCann, Ph.D.

Head, Sport Psychology Department

U.S. Olympic Committee

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Any comments from the rest of you?

Dr Mel C Siff

Denver, USA

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supertraining/