A Guide to the Best Adaptive Water Sports for Persons with Disability

Disability should never stop anyone from enjoying the best of what life has to offer, and it’s exactly why there are adaptive water sports. If you or a loved one with disability loves to be in the water, here are some water sports that you should try:

Swimming

Swimming is not only the easiest sport to try of you have disability, but it’s also one of the most beneficial for your health and wellbeing. Swimming doesn’t require any equipment and being in the water is a great way to exercise without putting so much pressure on your muscles and joints. In fact, swimming is an official sport in the Paralympics.

Kayaking

Kayaking is another fun adaptive sport that anyone with disability an enjoy. Start by choosing a boat that would best fit your needs, balance, upper body strength and ability. Then, ask help from a professional to help you get used to being on the kayak on calm water. Once you’re more comfortable kayaking on your own, you can take the adventure up a notch by kayaking on rapids.

Surfing

Surfing is now being embraced as one of the most popular adaptive sports in the world. Through the efforts of surfing professionals and organizations who want to help people with disabilities to learn surfing, adaptive surfboards have been created to accommodate different types of disabilities.

Many surfing instructors also teach adaptive surfing to both beginners and professionals who want to enjoy being one with the water while riding the waves.

Finally, there’s scuba diving that’s been thoroughly enjoyed by many persons with disabilities for many years. The benefits and healing power of being on the water has been proven by studies and scuba diving brings a sense of peace and calm while also helping to alleviate pain.

At the end of the day, no level of disability should stop you from enjoying these water sports. Being on the water also helps to heal you physically and emotionally, which is why it’s considered one of the best alternative forms of treatment there is.

So, be more adventurous and try one of these adaptive water sports.