Affiliations: [a] Department of Paediatric Rehabilitation, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| [b] Center of Excellence for Rehabilitation Medicine, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| [c] De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| [d] Department of Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy Science & Sports, UMC Utrecht Brain Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Anka Michielsen, Department of Paediatric Rehabilitation, De Hoogstraat Rehabilitation, Rembrandtkade 10, 3583TM Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: PURPOSE:The primary aim was to describe sports participation of Dutch children and adolescents with lower limb deficiencies (LLD). The secondary aim was to explore perceived limitations concerning sports participation. METHODS:A total of 103 children and adolescents with LLD, aged 8–18 years (mean 11.7 years), were asked about their sports participation using a study-specific self-report questionnaire. RESULTS:Children and adolescents with LLD frequently (78%) participated in sports activities, and most of them (68%) participated in the sport of their preference. Just over half of all children (52%) perceived an inability to participate in specific sports. Physical performance (running) and endurance were mentioned as the most limiting factors in participating in certain sports. CONCLUSION:Children and adolescents with LLD in the Netherlands participate in a variety of sports. Despite dependency on lower limb prostheses in most cases, children and adolescents with LLD have a high potentiality of participating in sports.
Keywords: Sports participation, lower limb deficiency, lower limb prostheses, children and adolescents
