+1 (629)348-3199ADAPTIVE SPORTS MEDICINE: UNIQUENESS AND CHALLENGES OF PROVIDING SPECIALTY CARE
2nd International Conference on NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS
April 11-12, 2019 | Barcelona, Spain
Kenneth Lee
Clement J Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, USA
Scientific Tracks Abstracts : J Neurol Neurorehabil Res
Abstract:
At one point in our lives we all played catch, kicked a ball, ran a race, or played in an organized sport. Sports are ingrained
in our society and are part of being a human. Adaptive sports medicine includes the practice of disability
medicine with sports medicine and incorporates the knowledge of the specific sports with their pattern of injuries
and specialized equipment. In general, able body sports medicine works with healthy individuals who succumb to
a temporary illness and/or acute injury. The athletes in this field tend to be in great physical condition with minimal
underlying medical problems. Adaptive sports medicine athletes have significant underlying medical or traumatic
conditions, and complications related to the individual disability. There are also unique injuries related to the adaptive
and assistive equipment used in to compete.
All adaptive sports athletes have baseline medical status that defines their physical disability such as SCI, amputation,
poly-trauma, and traumatic brain injury. Each condition is unique and requires understanding by the individual
athlete as well the healthcare provider. For example, an athlete with a spinal cord injury would require special attention
to the skin care below the level of injury, especially in tight fitting adaptive equipment and require periodic
pressure releases in endurance sports events. Understanding SCI and the potential for skin complications along with
equipment needs can prevent devastating pressure injuries leading to potentially prolonged recovery.
An example of the need for the understanding of unique complications of an underlying disability is autonomic
dysreflexia. Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a medical emergency that occurs in patients with SCI above T6. It causes an
imbalanced reflex sympathetic discharge, and if unrecognized, or left untreated, can lead to potentially life-threatening
hypertension, seizures, pulmonary edema, myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and death.
Athletes involved in adaptive sports have conditions that can put them at higher risk than able body athletes. Many
athletes with SCI have osteoporosis in their domain.
Biography:
Kenneth Lee is manager and the Milwaukee Eagles are one of the nation’s premier squads. Every year their Eagles host a home wheelchair lacrosse tournament at the Ozaukee Ice Center. Milwaukee Eagles is led by Kenneth Lee and Marquette University’s lacrosse team.
E-mail: Kenneth.Lee8@va.gov
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