Independent sailing with high tetraplegia using sip and puff controls: integration into a community sailing center

Abstract

Background: We are continually rediscovering how adapted recreational activity complements the rehabilitation process, enriches patients’ lives and positively impacts outcome measures. Although sports for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI) has achieved spectacular visibility, participation by high cervical injuries is often restricted due to poor accessibility, safety concerns, lack of adaptability, and high costs of technology.

Methods: We endeavor to demonstrate the mechanisms, adaptability, accessibility, and benefits the sport of sailing creates in the rehabilitative process. Our sailor is a 27-year-old man with a history of traumatic SCI resulting in C4 complete tetraplegia.

Results: The participant completed an adapted introductory sailing course, and instruction on the sip-and-puff sail and tiller control mechanism. With practice, he navigated an on-water course in moderate winds of 5 to 15 knots.

Discussion: Despite trends toward shorter rehabilitation stays, aggressive transdisciplinary collaboration with recreation therapy can provide community and natural environment experiences while inpatient and continuing post discharge. Such peak physical and psychological experiences provide a positive perspective for the future that can be shared on the inpatient unit, with families and support systems like sailing clubs in the community.

Conclusion: Rehabilitation theory directs a team process to achieve patient self-awareness and initiate self-actualization in spite of disablement. Utilization of local community sailing centers that have provided accessible assisted options provides person-centered self-realization of goals as assisted by family and natural supports. Such successful patients become native guides for others seeking the same experience.

Keywords:

• Spinal cord injury
• Tetraplegia
• Adaptive sailing
• Recreation therapy
• Community reintegration
• Nature

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Cristina Sadowsky, Lynn Handy, and Jessica Short for their invaluable input and support. The authors also thank the Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger and the Baltimore Downtown Sailing Center (DSC) for allowing them to conduct this research and use their facilities.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors None.

Funding None.

Disclosure and Conflict of Interest The paper has been read and approved by all named authors and there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship. There is no known conflict of interests associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

Ethics approval None.