Adaptive Sports Equipment Flashcards

In goalball, the ball contains bells so that players can track it. Which additional equipment requirement applies to ALL players regardless of visual ability?

Answer: Blackout eyeshades worn over the eyes

All goalball players, including those with partial sight, must wear opaque eyeshades to ensure equal competition and prevent visual advantage.

A recreation aide is setting up bocce for a participant with cerebral palsy who cannot throw. Which adaptive aid is permitted in recreational bocce?

Answer: A ramp or chute that the participant directs with head or hand movement

Ramps and chutes are standard adaptive aids that allow participants with limited motor function to independently direct and release the bocce ball.

Which characteristic distinguishes a quad rugby (murderball) wheelchair from a standard sport wheelchair?

Answer: It features a reinforced front bumper guard for contact and collision protection

Quad rugby chairs have distinctive front bumper guards designed to withstand the intentional contact and blocking that defines the sport.

A recreation aide observes a participant's prosthetic running blade flexing excessively during sprinting. This most likely indicates:

Answer: The blade category (e.g., sprint vs. distance) is mismatched to the activity

Excessive flex often means the blade stiffness rating does not match the participant's weight and the activity's impact demands, requiring a different blade category.

When outfitting a participant with limited grip for adaptive fishing, which modification is most effective?

Answer: Attaching a rod holder or gimbal belt so the rod is held by the body, not the hand

A rod holder or gimbal belt secures the rod to the angler's body, eliminating the need for hand grip while still allowing the participant to control the line.

In adaptive swimming, what is the purpose of a pull buoy used by swimmers with lower-limb differences?

Answer: To keep the hips and lower body elevated, improving hydrodynamic position

A pull buoy placed between the thighs or under the hips keeps the lower body afloat, compensating for the buoyancy normally provided by leg kick.

A recreation aide notices that the straps on a participant's adaptive ski boot are leaving red marks on the skin. The most appropriate immediate action is to:

Answer: Apply padding under the straps and re-evaluate fit

Adding padding redistributes pressure and should be assessed immediately; continuing with poor equipment fit risks skin breakdown, especially for participants with reduced sensation.