Brief E
Inclusive sports products for CP athletes and sports people. CP Sports.
Introduction
CP Sport provides sport and physical activity opportunities, expert support for parents, teachers, and coaches, and works to create inclusive environments for people with cerebral palsy and related disabilities.
We offer various sports and activities, host national events like athletics championships, and run training days and coaching sessions to build skills and confidence for participants of all levels. Additionally, CP Sport offers resources, a Club Finder for local opportunities, and a support network for families.
CP Sport offers participation in mainstream sports such as athletics, swimming, football, and boccia, as well as adapted sports like frame running and polybat.
1) Low-cost sustainable Kaye walker/game frame for games and sports.
Team sports such as frame football, and individual sports such as athletics, require a special support frame to enable running or quick movements. Current frames are expensive, more than £1,000, and whilst durable and adjustable, are outside the price range of a new club needing a frame for every team member. For general sports clubs, purchase of a frame is prohibitive for the occasional player who may wish to try a frame sport.
2) Low-cost-sustainable Manual handling rig for entering and leaving a swimming pool for CP swimmers.
Current ways of getting into and out of a swimming pool can be arduous for the CP swimmer, involving hoists or multiple helpers involved in manual handling.
Safety, usability, and dignity are all desirable attributes for any new equipment to help with this task.
3) Accessible inclusive clothing for donning and doffing by CP sports people and athletes.
CP Sports players and athletes would like a way of donning (putting on) and doffing (taking off) their specialist sports clothing, without the use of ‘hook and loop’ tape fasteners. They would like sports clothing that:
- Has a professional look and style.
- Easy for players and athletes with specific types of CP to easily don and doff their sportwear.
- Enhances their appearance and confidence as players and athletes, i.e. ‘kit confident’.
4) Accessible inclusive Gloves for donning and doffing by CP sports people and athletes.
Donning and doffing of sports gloves can be a critical issue for some CP sports players and athletes. They would like their specialist sports gloves to have the following attributes:
- Easy of donning and doffing without prehensile (opposing) grip.
- Ability to don and doff one handed.
- Ease of cleaning and maintenance.
- Durable and appropriate for their specific sport.
5) Inclusive clothing for thermal regulation (hot and cold) for CP athletes.
Inclusive clothing for thermal regulation (warming and cooling) is critical to a CP player or athlete’s performance. Desirable attributes for different clothing includes:
- Ease of warming or cooling the clothing ready for use.
- Knowing the temperature of the clothing, to avoid excesses of hot or cold.
- Not affected by extremes of environment, such as heat, sunlight, or water.
- Ease of donning and doffing of temperature regulation clothing system.
- Source of energy/power (if any) for heating and or cooling.
- Storage and maintenance.