Sports and physical activity reinforce a number of aspects worked on in the rehabilitation process. They particularly serve to foster the children's:
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Social integration into the community;
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Autonomy for their integration into society;
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Ability to create social bonds and friendships with other children who share in similar interests;
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Development of strength, physical and motor skills that increase their efficiency with other daily activities;
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Occupational balance that help them overcome their situation of handicap or difficulties;
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Self-esteem and confidence in their abilities by achieving personal goals;
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Feeling of accomplishment and well-being;
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Release, i.e. letting off steam;
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Oculomanual coordination, attention, concentration and development of executive functions (organization and planning);
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Prevention of pain-causing articular deformations;
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Communication and language skills since children must formulate questions and use acquired vocabulary;
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Production of clear speech by developing tonus in the trunk as well as respiratory support and control;
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Understanding the meaning of taking turns;
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Development of communication strategies: attracting attention, supporting their message with gestures, repeating or reformulating when not being understood, etc.
In contrast, inactivity causes strength and endurance to decrease as well as muscle stiffness and fatigue to increase.
For school-aged children who have already received several hours of individual therapy, participating in a physical group activity is often considered quite positive.
Some of the children's condition requires looking for adapted sports and recreational activities, i.e. a modified way of playing them; rules or equipment adapted to the limitations of those who engage in them.
The family must first make the child's tastes and abilities known in order to select an activity; and to find a guide or to make any needed special arrangements (ex: transportation).
Once this has been done, the family and the child can then meet with the special education teacher, the program's clinical coordinator or any other therapist of the rehabilitation team assigned to the child. They will assist them in identifying the resources that are available in their community, advise them on their choice and determine if any specific arrangements must be made.
For more information, a resource directory is available in the two main lobby areas of the Centre de réadaptation Marie Enfant as well as at the Clinique externe located in the basement of the building. It is also available on the web site: resource directory.