TENSPIN- Wheelchair Tennis for Spina Bifida people
project start date 01.01.2023
project end date 31.12.2023.
Projektni Partneri
Project Description
Spina Bifida (SB) is a congenital malformation included in the group of the neural tube defects. It has a world-wide incidence of approximately 2-8 per 10.000 newborns and it is the main cause of pediatric disability. Several studies have shown that youth with SB perceive lower levels of quality of life compared to their peers, particularly related to aspects of physical functioning, emotional and social/school domains.
For Spina Bifida people a fundamental role is represented by physical exercise, which has become even more important for children and adolescents, not only for the evident benefits that sport has for health, but also for the positive effects that it has on mind and social integration.
The TENSPIN project is aimed at improving quality of life and social inclusion of SB children and adolescents through sport and in particular by organising and promoting Wheelchair Tennis (WT) Courses.
Two pilots, one in Rome (Italy) and one in Zagreb (Croatia) will be carried out: at least 5 SB children/adolescents will attend WT courses and their health status will be monitored to assess improvement at physical, cognitive, psychological and at social attitude level. In addition the TENSPIN project will promote the organisation of sports courses and specifically WT courses in sport centres in different locations (including rural areas and suburban areas) to facilitate access to physical activities to people with Spina Bifida.
It will contribute also to raise awareness among SB families on the meaning of sport for the motor and mental re-education of children and adolescents in order to increase quality of life and foster social inclusion.
The collaboration between the three TENSPIN partners is the first step to bring the experience of WT for SB children and adolescents in different countries. If successful, the collaboration will lead to the creation of a network that will develop common guidelines, approaches and sport events to support WT for SB people.
