“A Kind of Therapy”: Wheelchair Sport Athletes and Health-Related Quality of Life

The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning physically impaired¹ wheelchair sport athletes attributed to wheelchair basketball participation as well as potential physical, psychological, and social health-related quality of life (HRQOL) benefits. Specifically, the experiences of wheelchair sport athletes from low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) affected by ongoing or recent conflict were examined. Focus group participants for this study included 108 wheelchair basketball athletes (77 men and 31 women) from seven men's and three women's national teams at an international wheelchair basketball tournament held in India. All teams were from LMICs in Africa and Asia that were served by the International Committee of the Red Cross due to recent or ongoing armed conflict. Data analysis produced three interrelated themes related to HRQOL: (1) improvements to physical health, (2) psychological impact of sport participation, and (3) social well-being. Physical benefits included improvements to physical functional capacity and decreases in medical complications. Psychological benefits included freedom and respite from inaccessibility and improved self-beliefs and feelings of capability on and off the court. Social well-being benefits included camaraderie in the team setting and positive interpersonal interactions with members of the broader community. Overall, the findings indicated that wheelchair sport is indicated as positively impacting numerous HRQOL indicators for disabled participants in LMIC and is a valuable rehabilitative option and meaningful endeavor for disabled persons.