TY - JOUR
T1 - Wrestlers with Limb Deficiencies
T2 - A Descriptive Study
AU - Baria, Michael R.
AU - Terry, Marisa J.
AU - Driscoll, Sherilyn W.
AU - Andrews, Karen L.
AU - Soma, David B.
AU - Prideaux, Cara C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2015/12/1
Y1 - 2015/12/1
N2 - Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if wrestling is a safe, positive athletic option for limb-deficient individuals. Design: This descriptive study consisted of an opportunity sample of limb-deficient wrestlers, aged 5 yrs and older with at least 1 yr of experience. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding health, satisfaction, and achievements. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: Sixteen male wrestlers reported nine below-the-knee, five above-the-knee, and three below-the-elbow limb deficiencies. There were nine congenital deficiencies and seven amputations acquired during childhood. Two individuals won National Collegiate Athletic Association championships, and seven competed collegiately. All reported a positive impact on quality-of-life, 87% reported no difficulty finding acceptance with the team, and 50% experienced wrestling-related residual limb complications. Associations between (1) residual limb complications before and during wrestling and (2) skin breakdown before and during wrestling did not demonstrate statistical significance (P = 0.30 and 0.1189, respectively). Conclusions: This study suggests that wrestling is a safe, positive sport for limb-deficient individuals, that it fosters competitive equality between impaired and nonimpaired participants, and that it has a positive impact on health and quality-of-life. The incidence of residual limb complications warrants monitoring.
AB - Objective: The objective of this study was to determine if wrestling is a safe, positive athletic option for limb-deficient individuals. Design: This descriptive study consisted of an opportunity sample of limb-deficient wrestlers, aged 5 yrs and older with at least 1 yr of experience. Participants completed a questionnaire regarding health, satisfaction, and achievements. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Results: Sixteen male wrestlers reported nine below-the-knee, five above-the-knee, and three below-the-elbow limb deficiencies. There were nine congenital deficiencies and seven amputations acquired during childhood. Two individuals won National Collegiate Athletic Association championships, and seven competed collegiately. All reported a positive impact on quality-of-life, 87% reported no difficulty finding acceptance with the team, and 50% experienced wrestling-related residual limb complications. Associations between (1) residual limb complications before and during wrestling and (2) skin breakdown before and during wrestling did not demonstrate statistical significance (P = 0.30 and 0.1189, respectively). Conclusions: This study suggests that wrestling is a safe, positive sport for limb-deficient individuals, that it fosters competitive equality between impaired and nonimpaired participants, and that it has a positive impact on health and quality-of-life. The incidence of residual limb complications warrants monitoring.
KW - Amputation
KW - Athletics
KW - Congenital Limb Deformities
KW - Wrestling
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U2 - 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000295
DO - 10.1097/PHM.0000000000000295
M3 - Article
C2 - 25888658
AN - SCOPUS:84947760045
SN - 0894-9115
VL - 94
SP - 1052
EP - 1057
JO - American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
JF - American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
IS - 12
ER -