Life-changing multisport event for amputees and individuals with limb difference
Posted by LimbPowerAdmin on Monday 27th March 2023
News Release
Date: For Immediate release
Life-changing multisport event for amputees and individuals with limb difference
The LimbPower Games and Exercise event is a life changing opportunity for adult amputees and limb different participants to take part in Para sports and exercise delivered by specialist from the National Governing Bodies of sport and qualified coaches and exercise instructors. The Games takes place on the 8th and 9th July 2023 at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, the birthplace of the Paralympics. We are inviting 100 amputees and individuals with limb difference to join the 2023 LimbPower Games and Exercise Event. The Sports will take place in the `athletics Arena and Sports Hall and the exercise and dance programme will take place in the Olympic Lodge Dance Studio.
The sessions take place in a relaxed, fun, educational and conducive environment with other amputees and people with limb difference. The event is an introduction to sport and exercise and forms part of the LimbPower pathway into activity for fitness and fun. The event can also be a first step into competition and an opportunity for participants to begin their journey into competitive sport enabling them to reach their sporting potential through an introduction to parasport.
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” -Francis of Assisi
The sports offer a pathway to joining the individual disability sports and exercise clubs where participants can progress their skills. The games consist of four competitive sports, each featured in the Paralympics. These are Badminton, shooting, archery and athletics. The following sports and exercises are included in the Have-A-Go programme, archery, track and field, athletics, badminton, table-tennis, sitting volleyball, swimming, powerlifting, cycling, and hand-cycling, rowing, Wheelchair Basketball
The exercise and dance programme offers an opportunity to try adapted exercise delivered by instructors who are used to working with amputees and people with limb difference and know how to adapt the exercises, tempo, and programmes to suit the needs of people with limb difference. It’s also an opportunity to meet some of our online exercise instructors in person.
Why are we organising the LimbPower Games and Exercise Event?
People with a physical disability were the most impacted group by the Covid-19 pandemic and were already less likely to participate in exercise and sport than non-disabled people. Through research and feedback from amputees and individuals with limb difference and congenital limb absence we identified that there was no dedicated grassroots sporting activity for new (Primary) amputee adults to get back into physical activity and sport post amputation or acquitted limb difference. The LimbPower Games and Exercise Event (previously the Amputee Games) was launched in 2008 to fill this needs gap. Amputees and people with limb difference need a unique offering due to the nature of their disability. Each amputee/limb different person is unique. The majority are single below the knee amputees, so they do not want to participate in exercise and sport in a Wheelchair but are often not able enough to participate with non-disabled people. Most amputees can walk using a prosthesis, so do not want to participate in sport in a wheelchair, yet most competitive disability sports are wheelchair sports. Although some amputees can participate in sport with non-disabled people, they are not participating on an equal basis to begin with. Many new amputees need a helping hand to get started and once they have built up the skills, knowledge and confidence can progress to joining one of the many disability friendly inclusive clubs or sporting associations.
How will amputees and individuals with limb difference benefit?
The attendees will participate in sports and exercise in a fun, safe, controlled, and supportive environment among other people with an amputation and or limb difference and with healthcare professionals on hand to offer advice and support. When people become disabled one of the biggest barriers to regaining or learning a new skill is fear. The biggest barrier to participation in exercise and sport for amputees and people with limb difference is mobility related to having a prosthetic. Socket fit and socket comfort is the biggest barrier! By providing an environment where healthcare professionals and established amputees who have already tried sport and exercise can act as role models and show what is possible, we can encourage new amputees and individuals with limb difference to experience the benefits of exercise and sport. Supporting participants amongst one’s peers, such as individuals with similar disability is a positive way to encourage people to have a go and make mistakes where they won’t be afraid to look silly or feel different. The positive impact that participation in sport and exercise will have on these individuals’ future health, activities of daily living, mobility, co-ordination, and quality of life is immeasurable.
Notes to editor:
The 2023 LimbPower Games and Exercise Event takes place on the 8th and 9th July at Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Guttmann Rd, Aylesbury HP21 9PP.
Contact Kiera Roche for more information at kiera@limbpower.com and on 07968 760001.
LimbPower support amputees, individuals with limb difference and their families to bridge the gap between hospital rehabilitation and community and school engagement to rebuild lives and improve physical, social, and mental well-being.
T: @limbpower
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