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Community Resources: Sports and Active Recreation for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy

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Cerebral Palsy

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Abstract

Participation in routine physical activity is important for health promotion and prevention of chronic health conditions. Sports and active recreation are activities that are carried out during leisure time and encourage movement and moderate to vigorous physical activity. Participating in sports and active recreation can be beneficial on several levels for children and youth with CP. At the body function and structure level of the ICF, improvements in fitness and endurance have been documented for children and youth with CP. At the activity and participation level of the ICF, improvements in functional mobility, sports skills, and social participation have also been observed. Even with these documented benefits, children and youth with CP participate less in sports and active recreation due to numerous barriers. Healthcare professionals can assist with decreasing barriers to facilitate increased participation. Healthcare professionals should introduce the concept of adaptive sports and active recreation participation to children with CP and their families at an early age. They can facilitate participation by providing resources about adaptive programs and adaptive sports equipment and assisting with sports activity modifications. Healthcare professionals have the expertise to consult with children with CP, their families, and sports coaches or to develop adaptive programs using their knowledge of medical and rehabilitation needs, motor learning and task modification strategies, and adaptive equipment. Information on adaptive sports resources are provided in this chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adaptive Sports and Medical Rehabilitation Research Center, Franciscan Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Maria A. Fragala-Pinkham

  2. The Carol and Paul Hatfield Cerebral Palsy Sports Program and The Cerebral Palsy Center, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Jennifer Miros

Authors
  1. Maria A. Fragala-Pinkham
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  2. Jennifer Miros
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria A. Fragala-Pinkham .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Freeman Miller

  2. Cerebral Palsy Program, AI DuPont Hospital for Children , Wilmington, DE, USA

    Steven Bachrach

  3. AI DuPont Hospital for Children , Wilmington, DE, USA

    Nancy Lennon

  4. Drexel University, PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA

    Margaret O'Neil

Section Editor information

  1. Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Margaret O'Neil

  2. Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA

    Nancy Lennon

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Fragala-Pinkham, M.A., Miros, J. (2019). Community Resources: Sports and Active Recreation for Individuals with Cerebral Palsy. In: Miller, F., Bachrach, S., Lennon, N., O'Neil, M. (eds) Cerebral Palsy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50592-3_157-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50592-3_157-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-50592-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-50592-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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