Cultures change as time goes on. People use to fear differences and handicaps, but now they embrace them. They embrace it through Special Olympics and Paralympics that are specifically for the mentally or physically handicapped.
Sports involving a wheelchair or scooter have become very popular. Wheelchair sports were invented because disabled individuals have a right, like everyone else, to play and compete in sports. Because of the handicaps, the sports are slightly modified to accommodate the players.
There are several different types of wheelchair sports. Some of them are racing, basketball, tennis, table tennis, baseball, football, hockey, bowling, and badminton. Some of these sports use a manual wheelchair and others use an electric wheelchair or mobile scooter.
The medical wheelchairs and sport wheelchairs are made differently. Sport wheelchairs are made to go fast and maneuver easily. Even the wheels on the wheelchair or scooter are angled to allow more stability.
Basketball and tennis are the two most popular wheelchair sports. In 1956 wheelchair basketball began. Brad Parks then started up wheelchair tennis in the 1970s.
In 1973 wheelchair basketball went International. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation began then and still oversees the sport today. This sport has a number classification system to ensure fairness.
Basketball and wheelchair basketball are very similar, but the rule for traveling is different. A wheelchair player is traveling when they have received a ball and touched his or her wheels more than twice. To avoid traveling the players must shoot, bounce, or pass the ball before they touch their wheels again.
Wheelchair tennis is much like regular tennis that is played with two or four people. Instead of running the players reach and go after balls with their wheelchairs. Players need easily maneuvered wheelchairs for this sport.
Alpine Home Medical carries scooters, stair lifts, vehicle lifts, lift chairs, wheelchairs, respiratory equipment, bathroom safety equipment, and other mobility devices. We are dedicated to serving, supporting and improving the lives of our customers.