I have been approached about working with a couple of people who are paraplegic and want to swim to eventually compete in local triathlons. Does anyone have any experience, recommendations, drill work or advice that could help accomplish this goal?
Thanks!
Kat
Kat, I work with persons who have disabilities and I found that you have to be creative in teaching swimming. Some drills may be physically impossible for them to do as written. I am working with a person with spina bifida - she cannot feel anything from the waist down and to tell her to kick was counter productive.Her feet are also fused - no ankle flexion at all. We started with using a life jacket, to putting a noodle under her arms, to using a pull bouy and now she is swimming freestyle and backstroke with no floatation devises. This took time. Several of my other swimmers (adults) have cerebral palsy,some more involved than others. Those more involved may not be able to do one arm drills due to balance issues.
I just do a lot of trial and error - and then adapting drills to make it work.
Good luck - this sounds like fun
Kat, I work with persons who have disabilities and I found that you have to be creative in teaching swimming. Some drills may be physically impossible for them to do as written. I am working with a person with spina bifida - she cannot feel anything from the waist down and to tell her to kick was counter productive.Her feet are also fused - no ankle flexion at all. We started with using a life jacket, to putting a noodle under her arms, to using a pull bouy and now she is swimming freestyle and backstroke with no floatation devises. This took time. Several of my other swimmers (adults) have cerebral palsy,some more involved than others. Those more involved may not be able to do one arm drills due to balance issues.
I just do a lot of trial and error - and then adapting drills to make it work.
Good luck - this sounds like fun
