21

GAME SPORTS

The sports described in this chapter promoteboth aerobic and anaerobic physical conditioning aswell as skill development . For best results, theyshould be combined with a pure aerobic type ofactivity and a program of weights, stretching, andcalisthenics . Proper warm-up and cool-down exer-cises will be necessary (see Chapters 5 and 6) . Thereare many other game sports that require skill but areless strenuous and do not offer high-level aerobicbenefits, such as golf, bowling, and baseball.

Handball, tennis, racquetball, squash, basket-ball, soccer, hockey, and lacrosse are good supple-mental activities to a regular physical conditioningprogram because they are relatively strenuous sportsthat provide good aerobic exercise, especially ifplayed on a regular basis . They require and maintainboth aerobic and anaerobic conditioning . Thesesports are not as repetitive in their motions as arerunning, rowing, swimming, bicycling, or cross-country skiing. The games emphasize strategy and avariety of actions to score points against opponents.

As in any sport, the player must develop theability to perform the basic skills required: running(sprinting short distances or running down a field orcourt); ball-handling or racquet/stick skills thatrequire good hand-eye coordination ; and upper-body strength . Soccer requires strenuous use andcoordination of the lower limbs . All of the gamesdiscussed in this chapter develop a sense of quick-ness and balance.

Once the game skills are mastered, the playermust have the strength and muscular endurance

needed for distance running, as well as the flexibilityand agility needed for quick body movement . Theseare necessary in order to prevent injuries and willcontribute to the satisfaction of high performance inplay. It is always best to begin a new activity slowlyand work up to full potential gradually . Thus, itmay take time to become fit enough to keep up withthe others in an active game sport.

Most game sports are not continual steady-stateexercise, which often makes it difficult to monitoraerobic progress . Time-outs, brief rest periods, orother interruptions in the game allow the pulse todrop momentarily during the course of play . Be-cause a good aerobic training program requiresmaintenance of a target heart rate for 20 to 30minutes, at least 3 times per week, one must trainfor longer periods when using game activities foraerobic conditioning.

Endurance levels increase more rapidly in gamesports when the participant also engages in someform of steady-state exercise on a regular basis (e .g.,running or swimming) . Many athletes run and/orlift weights during the off-season, which increasestheir strength and aerobic capacity . Thus, they arein better condition for competition in the regulargame season during which a reduced program ofrunning, weight lifting, and calisthenics is continuedfor fitness maintenance.

Handball, tennis, racquetball, and squash re-quire fast reflexes and agility . Individuals with lowerlimb loss may prefer racquetball over other racquetsports because of the smaller court size involved and

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Activities for Fitness and Skill: Game Sports

STEVE WILBER, SEATTLE, WAKevin Wilson had a collegiate soccer scholarship just priorto losing his left leg below the knee . He now competes inboth crutch soccer and stand-up soccer leagues withnondisabled players.

the shorter distance to be covered when running.However, speed is essential and there is less time toreact when playing on a smaller court . Speed can bea problem when competing with nondisabled play-ers; therefore, a player with a disability has todevelop game strategies and good ball placement inorder to be competitive.

Throughout the game, the player must be ableto run (when necessary) in order to get adequatecardiovascular exercise from the activities . There-fore, the prosthesis must fit the residual limb well . Ifnot, blisters or skin irritation will occur and pros-thetic adjustments may be necessary . If complica-tions persist, it may become necessary to chooseanother activity .

JOHN WOODMANSEE/VAMC, SEATTLE, WAMike Nitz, serving a ball during a racquetball game, wears aCAT/CAM Flexible Brim AK Suction Socket, Mauch SNSKnee Unit with the Flex-Foot prosthesis.

Hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and basketball requirecontinuous movement by the players ; a lot ofdistance is covered on the field or court during thecourse of the game . The person with lower limb losswho cannot keep up the required pace probably willnot get an adequate aerobic workout, and the playermay not fully enjoy the game . However, forsomeone who really wants to play one of thesesports, there are some options . One option would beto select a position on the field that does not requirea great deal of running, such as goalie . Althoughthis would allow for participation as an effectivemember of the team, it would limit the aerobicbenefits of an active team sport.

Hockey and lacrosse involve the use of a stickto maneuver the ball and require the player to cover

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RRDS Clinical Guide . Physical Fitness : A Guide for Individuals with Lower Limb Loss

JOHN WOODMANSEE/VAMC, SEATTLE, WAJohn Everett drives a hard shot into the wall . He usesSeattle Feet and the ActivSleeve Suspension system on hisexoskeletal prostheses.

distances at a fast pace . Roller hockey or ice hockeymay be better choices for the person with lower limbloss than would field hockey because no running isinvolved . These sports are comparatively nontrau-matizing to the residual limb because they requiremovement of the legs in a gliding motion, which doesnot have the vertical impact of running . In roller orice hockey, a person who is disabled can competemore favorably with nondisabled opponents.

People with lower limb loss often find rollerhockey easier to play than ice hockey because thewheels of the roller skates provide a wider base thanthe blade does on ice skates . There is also moreankle mobility allowed in roller-skating because ofthe adjustability of the trucks that attach to theskate wheels . Beginners should start with roller

MARTIN BRUMER, SANTA MONICA, CAScott Fickenscher demonstrates his skill as an accomplishedtennis player . He wears a Seattle Foot and Ankle with OttoBock adapters, New Skin protective coating on theendoskeletal foam cover, PM Liner, DAW Sheath, and theActivSleeve Suspension System.

skates rather than roller blades, which requiregreater balance.

When ice-skating, some people with BK ampu-tation find that leaning their prosthesis forward overthe ball of the foot helps them maintain balance andaids in push-off . This may require a special align-ment of the prosthesis, or modification of a walkingprosthesis (by adding wedges to the heel) to makethe prosthetic leg lean forward . Individuals with AKamputations will find ice- or roller-skating difficultbecause of problems with knee stability (those withthe Mauch SNS Knee Unit will find it easier to ice-or roller-skate when it is combined with the EndoliteESK unit) .

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Activities for Fitness and Skill : Game Sports

CHARLIE FRIED/ABILITY MAGAZINE, LOS ANGELES, CAJeff Keith plays goalie on the varsity lacrosse team atBoston College.

Soccer is very demanding on the legs . Althoughsome athletes with disabilities can keep up with thenondisabled in playing soccer on a full field, mostfind there is too much strenuous running andkicking involved for them to be competitive. Indoorsoccer, which has a smaller "field," is a goodalternative.

People who find it difficult to run whilewearing a prosthetic leg can still play soccer byremoving the prosthesis and using crutches . DonBennett of Seattle, Washington, has developedcrutch soccer, a new form of soccer for nondisabledplayers and those with disabilities . Crutch soccer isfast-moving, very competitive, and provides anexcellent muscular and aerobic workout . Teams canbe made up of players with and without disabilities .

INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PROSTHETICS,LANSING, MI

Dale Conlin is shown roller-blading. He wears a total-surface-bearing socket design, Peyton Massey silicone gelinsert, latex Michigan sleeve suspension, Otto Bock titaniumcomponents, Seattle Foot, and New Skin cosmesis.

All players use crutches, but may not hit the ballwith them. The nondisabled players must keep oneleg off the ground at all times (it must be the sameleg throughout the game). The nondisabled playerssoon realize the challenge of playing on crutches.

The crutch soccer team in Seattle has hostedseveral international tournaments ; coach Bill Barryhas traveled extensively to promote the gamethroughout the United States, Canada, South Amer-ica, England, and the former Soviet Union.

Basketball is one of the fastest-moving teamsports . Playing it requires agility in jumping andrunning and a high degree of ball-handling skill . Themost difficult challenges for those with lower limb

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RRDS Clinical Guide . Physical Fitness : A Guide for Individuals with Lower Limb Loss

PROSTHETICS RESEARCH STUDY, SEATTLE, WA

Modifications have been made to this below-knee prosthesis

to move the weight line forward in order to accommodate

the leg position for ice skating . In the forward lean shown,the socket falls over the middle section to the ball of the

foot.

amputation are changing direction quickly whilerunning, and running the distances required withoutgetting blisters.

Regardless of the nature and level of amputa-tion and the condition of the residual limb, thebest-fitting prosthesis may still not be adequate forrunning during an entire game of basketball . Butthere are other ways to be effective in the game,such as developing sharp aim and shooting skills.Outside perimeter shooting ability will certainlyenhance a person's value as an effective member ofthe team.

Individuals who simply cannot tolerate the

SEATTLE TIMES, SEATTLE, WA

Steve Wilber (center) of the Seattle Crutch Soccer Team isin control of the ball.

pressure caused by continuous running will find ittoo difficult to participate in full-court basketball.Playing half-court basketball, where less runningis required, can be an enjoyable alternative . Thereis also the option of playing wheelchair basket-ball . This is often a good choice for those with high-level and bilateral AK amputation or hipdisarticulation. There are competitive leagues andtournaments in many communities throughout theUnited States, and wheelchair basketball teams arevery popular.

On the national level, competitive basketballtournaments for persons with disabilities are spon-sored each year by the U.S. Amputee AthleticAssociation and the National Wheelchair BasketballAssociation .

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Activities for Fitness and Skill : Game Sports

VERN MILLER/NEWS-HERALD, PANAMA CITY, FL

Tim Flowers practices dribbling with his newly-fitted Flex-Feet, which are stillon their alignment units .