FUNCTIONAL PROFILE WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL ATHLETES WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY ACCORDING TO THE ICF

Background: The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health considers multiples aspects of functionality; it is believed that this tool can help to evaluate the athletes with disabilities. Objective: To determinate the functional profile of basketball players in wheelchairs according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health for individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 12 wheelchair basketball athletes. The functionality has been classified by the abbreviated version of the core sets for individuals with chronic SCI, which contains 33 categories. These categories were considered valid if they had at least 20% of the athletes with some degree of disability (according to the ICF qualifiers). Results: Of the 33 evaluated categories, 31 (93.9%) were representative for the sample. Two categories were not considered valid (b710 and e340). In seven categories all athletes had some impairment (s120, d455, d465, d530, e115, e150 e e580). However, the largest impairment was observed in the categories: s120, d455, d465, e115 and e120. Conclusion: The athletes had different functional impairments; however such limitations do not prevent them from practicing the sport.