The role of sport and physical activity within the rehabilitation and reintegration process: a longitudinal case study of a formerly incarcerated man

The purpose of prison to punish individuals while also functioning as a space for rehabilitation and personal change is a tension that is particularly relevant when considering interventions such as sport. Sport and physical activity adopt multiple roles in prisons and may be experienced simultaneously as a means of coping with imprisonment, as a disciplinary practice, or as a tool to facilitate rehabilitation. However, empirical evidence on the role of sport in prisoners’ rehabilitation and reintegration remains limited, and studies which examine the contribution of sport from the perspective of (ex)prisoners are rare. Addressing this gap, this study provides unique insight from a formerly imprisoned man and maps how sport offered personal meaning, whilst providing a foundation for his rehabilitation and reintegration. Utilising a longitudinal intrinsic case study approach, interview data was collected at three different time-points: during the participant’s imprisonment in a closed prison (2018), in an open prison (2021), and following release (2025). Findings indicate that in the closed prison, the participant experienced sport primarily as a means of coping with the pains of imprisonment. However, within the open prison, sport became an expression of intended rehabilitation and a field for learning social skills. Following release, sport acted as an aid for both professional and broader social reintegration, yet the stigma of incarceration acted as a barrier. While questions remain regarding the intentional use of sport and physical activity in custody, our study offers suggestions for future research at both a methodological and practical level.