Adaptive sports are defined as competitive or recreational sports for those who have disabilities. From wheelchair rugby to running with guides for blind people, almost any sport can be made accessible.
With the Paralympics showcasing talent across the disabled community, you may be wondering how you as an amputee can get involved and aid your recovery.
Physical rehabilitation
Recovering from an amputation is a long and painful process. Months of doctor appointments and operations will slowly ease and you will be left with physiotherapy as your main support.
Beginning an adaptive sport, with the go-ahead from your medical team, can help you push your physical rehabilitation along. You will begin to see benefits such as increased flexibility, strength and coordination. If you choose to utilise prosthetic technology then you may find the benefits increase tenfold as you can participate more.
Being out of action whilst you recover will have had an impact on your health so getting active can help to prevent secondary complications.
Psychological benefits
Facing life as an amputee takes a great deal of adjustment, especially if your injury is relatively fresh. You may notice yourself feeling lonely, anxious or even depressed. Whilst you should seek medical support, you may want to consider exercising and socialising to help combat this.
Taking part in an adaptive team sport such as wheelchair rugby or badminton can open up a community of new people who can relate to your struggles. These clubs also give you an outlet for any frustrations as you can vent without being judged and will feel supported and included.
Accessing adaptive sports
There are clubs for different adaptive sports across the UK, but they may take some finding.
Every Body Moves is a great organisation which has been set up by from ParalympicsGB and aims to make sports accessible for everyone across the disabled community. Simply search your area for local clubs, or you can search by activity to find specific sites.
Alternatively, you could contact local sporting venues and see if there is a way you can take part without it being a specifically adaptive session. Amputees are often able to play sports in similar ways to people without visible disabilities.
You may find it difficult to access the equipment and resources you need to make your chosen sport the best it can be. Remember, if your injury was caused by negligence, then you could be entitled to compensation through amputation claims. This would provide funding for your rehabilitation, including sporting equipment.
A story of resilience and success
If you missed the recent Paralympics here is an athlete who will inspire you. Alice Tai competed in 2016 with all her limbs. She then made the difficult decision in 2022 to amputate her right leg below the knee after being born with club feet. She went on to win two gold medals, a silver medal and two bronze medals in the pool in the Paralympics 2024.
