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Sports & Leisure

UCP’s Sports and Leisure Channel is designed for people with disabilities who are interested in sports and other leisure activities and proposes creative ideas for inclusive community recreation programs, including outdoor adventure activities for people with disabilities.

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Sports & Leisure

Recreation & Leisure

Swimming

Person doing the butterfly stroke. Swimming is an excellent recreational, competitive, and therapeutic activity that can be done indoors or outdoors. Aquatic exercise and therapy are used to treat and prevent several physical ailments. In addition to its therapeutic role, there are several aquatic activities that are very popular for recreational purposes. An individual's ability to swim and feel comfortable in the water creates opportunity to get involved in other water sports such as kayaking, canoeing, sailing, and water skiing. Swimming is an official sport of the United States of America Deaf Sports Federation (USADSF), the Dwarf Athletic Association of America (DAAA), Special Olympics International (SOI), the United States Cerebral Palsy Athletic Association (USCPAA), Wheelchair Sports USA (WSUSA), Disabled Sports USA (DSUSA), and the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA).

BENEFITS OF SWIMMING AND AQUATIC EXERCISE
Excellent form of aerobic exercise which increases cardiovascular function. Water buoyancy reduces stress on joints. A low impact activity. An individual's weight is only about 10% of normal weight. Water provides resistance which improves muscle strength. Improves balance and agility. Improves confidence and comfort in and around water.

COMPETITIVE SWIMMING
Swimmer with a disability stepping up to the diving platform.It is very important that swimmers train under the supervision of a qualified coach. Special stroke adaptations are easily made by a coach who understands stroke mechanics. USA Swimming teams are an excellent place to find a coach. Swimmers can be easily integrated into existing able bodied clubs for training and meet experience. With a few exceptions, swimmers are expected to perform strokes according to the rules of able bodied swimming. Rule books are available from USA Swimming. Swimmers are classified to compete against others with similar functional abilities. The most elite swimmers compete in the Paralympic Games every four years.

A summary of the sport classification system used for swimmers with physical disabilities: Swimmers are classified between S1-S15.

  • S1-S10: Determined by functional level.
  • S11-S13: Visually impaired or blind swimmers.
  • S14: Swimmers with mental disabilities such as mental retardation, severe learning disabilities, or autism.
  • S15: Swimmers who are deaf. For the complete swim classification system, see keyword: Swimming.

POOL ACCESS
Accessible swimming pool stairs. Several products are available for accessing the water. Stair systems and pool lifts are available for accessing pools. In addition to the factsheet linked above, you can get more information by searching the NCPAD database using keyword: lifts.

OUTDOOR ACCESS
Woman in a beach wheelchair. There are several manufacturers of all-terrain wheelchairs for access to natural bodies of water. In addition, temporary accessible walkways are available to provide a smooth surface over sand or grass for everyday wheelchairs.

PROSTHETICS FOR SWIMMING
The pr Adaptive fins.osthetic device pictured above has a folding wing designed to reduce resistance in the water during the recovery portion of a swimming stroke. There are also prosthetic devices designed specifically for the backstroke. Prosthetic devices are not permitted in sanctioned swim events.

FLOTATION DEVICES
Girl using a flotation device. Flotation Devices help stabilize individuals in the water. Swimming ability, buoyancy, and experience should be considered when choosing a flotation device. There are several types of flotation devices available for various swimming styles.

EQUIPMENT SUPPLIERS

  • Stairs/Ramps/Lifts, keyword: Lift, ramp, or stairs
  • Flotation devices, keyword: Floatation device
  • All-Terrain wheelchairs, keyword: Water chair
  • Swim Prosthetics, keyword: Swim prosthetic
  • Mats for beach access, keyword: Trail Makers
  • All swim equipment, keyword: Swim Equipment

FOR MORE INFORMATION (also see keyword: Swimming)
DSUSA, (301)217-0960

DAAA, (972)317-8299

SOI, (202)628-3630

USABA, (719)630-0422

USCPAA, (401)874-7465

USADSF, (801)393-7916 (TTY)

USA Swimming, (719)578-4578

Wheelchair Sports USA, (719)574-1150

More information on this and related topics may be available in the NCPAD Citation Database. Try searching with keywords: swim, etc.

NOTE
The information provided here is offered as a service only. The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability, University of Illinois at Chicago, the National Center on Accessibility, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago do not formally recommend or endorse the equipment listed. As with any products or services, consumers should investigate and determine on their own which equipment best fits their needs and budget.

Source NCPAD