Adapted Sports and Recreation Therapy

A range of adapted sports activities.

Sharp Rehabilitation Center's Recreation Therapy Department offers San Diego's most diverse spectrum of adapted sports activities for people with disabilities. Wheelchair basketball has been played since the 1940s, with paraplegic/amputee players using wheelchairs. But adapted sports are not limited to wheelchair basketball. Quadriplegics with even more limited muscle use have opportunities for adapted sports outlets.

Wheelchair Rugby
Quad Rugby
Inventive athletes in Canada created "murderball" for paraplegics, where wheelchair-bound players carry a volleyball down a regulation basketball court and over the end line to score. It is a contact sport, with defensive players crashing their wheelchairs into the ball handler to force turnovers and prevent scoring. When the game migrated to the U.S., it became known as quad rugby.

Sharp HealthCare is committed to supporting and promoting this sport for quadriplegics. In 1993, the Sharp Shadow quad rugby team was created and went on to become national champions in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2009 and 2010. Today, the Sharp Edge team includes some of the original team members.

The quad rugby team travels to compete in California and in out-of-state play. For more information, please call 858-939-3048.

Adapted Water Sports
Living in San Diego makes water sports a natural. For decades, Sharp has opened up the world of adapted water sports to persons with disabilities. First, the Day on the Bay program included adapted sailing, kayaking and waterskiing. Then, in 1990, the addition of sit-down Jet Skis was added to the program. Today, Sharp offers seven adapted water sports in the Day on the Bay program with the assistance of the Torrey Pines Kiwanis, Kawasaki Motor Sports and Mission Bay Aquatic Center.

Wheelchair Tennis

Wheelchair Tennis
Wheelchair tennis began in San Diego 20 years ago, and the US Wheelchair Tennis Open Championship has been held at the Barnes Tennis Center the past three years. Sharp has been a sponsor of this national championship tournament, providing lunch for participants and volunteers, and transportation for the athletes.

The advantage of this sport is that able-bodied and disabled players can compete on the same court. Game rules allow one bounce for the able-bodied person and two bounces for the wheelchair player. Sharp sponsors two wheelchair tennis clinics each year. People with disability have an opportunity to try a $3,000 tennis wheelchair. If they are interested, they are referred to Barnes Tennis Center to sign up for classes and playing time.

Other Regularly Scheduled Adapted Sports
Socialization, exercise, and sporting activities can often be a catalyst to long-term recovery. Sharp Rehab provides a variety of special recreation and sporting events designed to support each individual's well being. Regularly scheduled classes include:

  • Adaptive aquatics
  • Adaptive golf
  • Adaptive weight training
  • Adaptive yoga
  • Gentle Fitness exercise classes
  • Wheelchair sports clinics
  • Seasonal events also include adaptive snow skiing, adaptive waterskiing, sailing and Day on Bay

For More Information
For more information about Sharp's adapted sports programs, please call Rehabilitation Services at 858-939-3048 or send us an email. To find a Sharp-affiliated physician who can refer you to a physical therapist, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. To find general information about rehabilitation, visit Rehabilitation in Adult Health or read the Rehabilitation News archive.