Acceptance of the sense of implementing safe fall programs for people with visual impairments or after amputation of limbs - the perspective of modern adapted physical activity

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to find out whether safe falling programs for patients with visual impairment or limb amputees, as a prospective modern adapted physical activity, gained acceptance from physiotherapy students and people with disabilities. Material: The study consisted of three stages. The sample included 189 participants. The preset inclusion criterion (adequate attendance during the training) was met by 134 students and all the participants with visual impairment (n = 6) and after limb amputation (n = 8). Results: The opinions that implementation of STSFT programs for patients with visual impairment or after limb amputation, expressed by physiotherapy students (about 94% and 95% of students at stages I and II respectively) and patients with disabilities (100% of amputees and 83% of patients with visual impairment at stage III), who learned to protect their bodies during collisions with the ground, indicate that the aforementioned empirically verified programs are effective. Conclusions: 1. Implementation of safe falling programs as an adapted physical activity for patients with visual impairment or after limb amputation may adversely affect their feeling of safety and motivation for practicing sports, tourism or other physical activities. 2. Physiotherapy students specializing in safe falling will contribute to a growing number of new workplaces and innovative services, both for able-bodied people and people with disabilities. Such a specialty will be essential for public health including improvement of the patient’s quality of life.