Occupational therapy intervention in paralympic sport: a look at low-cost assistive technology for wheelchair rugby.

Introduction: Paralympic sport is characterized by the pursuit of better performance in sports played by people with disabilities. In wheelchair rugby, assistive technology (AT) equipment is used to enhance athletic performance.

Objectives: Assess the AT requirements of wheelchair rugby players, identify the psychosocial factors that contribute to their performance and AT use and assess user satisfaction with the recommended and implemented AT.

Method: Descriptive explanatory case study with a quantitative approach that included four athletes from the Brazilian national wheelchair rugby squad, who answered the Athletes with Disabilities Questionnaire, the AT Device Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA-BR) and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with AT (QUEST version 2.0). Statistical analysis consisted of frequencies and percentages, as well as the scores for each instrument.

Results: Items required: harnesses, gloves and cooling vests. The AT improved athletic performance and increased the overall satisfaction score from 1.6 to 4.8 after intervention. The factors considered to determine AT success were safety, comfort and effectiveness, and the positive psychosocial factors identified were support from family and friends and sufficient income to participate in the sport.

Conclusions: The study achieved its objectives and the use of a conceptual model, standardized assessments and working in conjunction with the athletes and their trainers were essential. It is hoped that the baseline presented in this study can be used in future research in the fields of AT or parasports.Implications for rehabilitationPresent the intervention of the occupational therapist in Assistive Technology (AT) for paralympic athletes;Identify personal and contextual factors in the use of AT in parasports (attitudes, support and services);Present satisfaction with the AT device in parasport before and after intervention;Present satisfaction with the AT service provided by the occupational therapist based on the Matching Person and Technology (MPT) model.Understand the objectives of AT in wheelchair rugby.Understand the use of the MPT conceptual model and application of the AT Predisposition Assessment (ATD PA-BR) to recommend and monitor AT use in the para-athlete population.Know the AT devices used and customized by wheelchair rugby athletes.