Utility of a Pediatric Adaptive Sports Clinic: A Case Series Review

Abstract

Background

Limited funding is available for athletes with disabilities in the United Kingdom. This compounds the barriers to participation and development that already exist.

Method

To combat this growing problem, a Multi-Disciplinary Pediatric Adaptive Sports Clinic was formed.

Result

Fifteen athletes with disabilities attended the Clinic from November 2017 to November 2019. In our cohort, there were 10 males and 5 females (age range: 13–18 years). Most athletes participated at a grassroots level (n = 9). The range of diagnoses included cerebral palsy, Ehlers Danlos syndrome and congenital hand differences. Forty-four appointments were made after the initial meeting with a 95% attendance rate. Improvements beyond the minimal clinically important differences (MCID) for the Patient Specific Functional Scale, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, and Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Testing Scale were noted in over half of cases.

Conclusion

With a focus on injury prevention and strength and conditioning techniques, this clinic supported athletes to successfully compete from a recreational to an elite level across all types of sports and adolescent ages by providing patient-specific regimens. Our case series provides preliminary evidence to suggest the formation of similar clinics that can support athletes with disabilities across a range of sports.

Keywords:

• Athletes with disabilities
• injury prevention
• multi-disciplinary
• sports clinic
• strength and conditioning

Disclosure statement

Physiokinetic, a private enterprise, provided the physiotherapy sessions. They have a partnership with the University of Birmingham. Two participants have received funding through the Hospital’s Hand and Upper Limb Charity for their physiotherapy sessions.

Notes on contributors

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Bilal Taib

Bilal Taib is a Plastic Surgery Registrar working in the West Midlands Deanery.

Yangmyung Ma

Yangmyung Ma is a Foundation Year Doctor working in the West Midlands Deanery.

Rohan Tandon

Rohan Tandon is a university student.

Rebecca Knight

Rebecca Knight is a physiotherapist working for Physiokinetic.

Michael Gosling

Michael Gosling is a physiotherapist working for Physiokinetic.

Kim Gregory

Kim Gregory is a Consultant Physician in Sports and Exercise Medicine working at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

Laura Sunderland

Laura Sunderland is an Advanced Occupational Therapist working at the Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

Carla Baldrighi

Carla Baldrighi is a Consultant Paediatric Hand and Microsurgeon working at the Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

Kerstin Oestreich

Kerstin Oestreich is a Consultant Plastic and Hand Surgeon working at the Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust.

Andrea Jester

Andrea Jester is a Consultant Plastic and Hand Surgeon and is the Clinical Lead of the Hand and Upper Limb Service at the Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust.