Based on the linked source; automatically prepared and checked against the original report.
Study design
Researchers used a qualitative ethnographic design alongside questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to examine lived experiences at one wheelchair basketball club in South Africa’s Western Cape. The study involved four participants, two men and two women aged 19 to 26, all living with spinal cord injury. Researchers analyzed questionnaire results descriptively and identified themes in interview data.
Reported benefits
The analysis identified three themes: greater functional independence, improved inclusivity and socialization, and stronger self-esteem and self-confidence. The study reported that participation supported physical, social and psychological dimensions of community reintegration, while also creating opportunities for peer support, empowerment and increased independence.
Limits and wider context
Questionnaire responses indicated higher perceived integration than objectively measured integration, suggesting that participants felt a stronger sense of belonging even where structural barriers remained. The researchers noted the very small, single-club sample and the limited availability of functioning clubs after COVID-19. They called for broader institutional and financial support and larger studies across diverse settings.
