An Overview of Wheelchair Basketball With Implications for Life Care Planning

Wheelchair basketball is a sport that can benefit individuals with lower extremity impairment. Benefits include improved and enhanced physical and psychological health along with opportunities for socialization. As a wellrecognized and available sport in our communities. Life Care planners should consider wheelchair basketball programs when making recommendations to for adolescents and young adults who are interested in being active. Wheelchair basketball was created as a result of World War II veterans returning to the United States with rehabilitation needs. These men were able-bodied while serving their country but returned in large numbers with frostbite/cold injuries, radiation injuries, paraplegia and/or amputation; conditions that commonly limited their ability to walk (Veterans and Their Needs, n.d.). Veterans were interested in becoming more active while recuperating and sought outlets for improving their lives. Prior to World War II, people commonly died after having a spinal cord injury (SCI) but with the advent of penicillin and sulfa drugs and a better understanding of complications (i.e., urinary tract and skin infections), individuals survived (National Spinal Cord Injury Association NSCIA, 1995).