Adaptive Sports & Recreational Therapy
For patients who have become physically disabled due to a stroke, spinal cord or brain injury, amputation or other medical condition, re-adapting to life with a disability can be challenging—both physically and emotionally.
Why Choose Us
Unlike other rehabilitation centers in the community, Memorial's Adaptive Sports and Recreational Therapy offers a full-time program with an experienced and dedicated staff to help our patients go beyond and reach their maximum potential.
Our highly experienced team of rehabilitation experts works with patients throughout the continuum of care—including rehabilitation, recovery and transition—so they can get back to living the life they deserve.
Recreational Therapy
Our recreational therapy program aims to help individuals become as independent and productive as possible by integrating leisure interests into plan of care.
Rehabilitation Benefits of Recreational Therapy
Recreational therapy is a treatment service designed to restore, remediate, and rehabilitate an individual's level of functioning and independence in life by using activities. It also promotes health and wellness as well as reduce or eliminate activity limitations and restrictions to participation in life situations caused by illness or disabling conditions.
Some of the benefits of recreational therapy include:
- improving gross/fine motor skills,
- coping skills, and
- reduction of stress, anxiety, depression, and developing/maintaining social skills.
Recreational therapy sessions at Memorial Rehabilitation Institute incorporate a variety of groups or one-to-one sessions such as cooking, painting, music, and more. Co-treatment opportunities with recreational therapy include:
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Music therapy
- Neuropsychology
Recreational therapy educates individuals on the importance of leisure participation by facilitating connections to the Memorial Adaptive Sports program, support groups, and community events.
Adaptive Sports
Benefits of Adaptive Sports
Adaptive Sports and Recreational program may have numerous long-term therapeutic benefits for participants. It addition to enhancing quality of life and improving overall health, our program may help participants:
- Become more independent
- Develop new skills
- Feel more hopeful
- Forge new friendships
- Have fewer secondary medical conditions (i.e., diabetes, hypertension)
- Improve mood
- Improve self esteem
- Increase motivation
- Lower blood pressure
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Reduce stress levels
The Memorial Adaptive Sports and Recreational program offers a range of adaptive activities for people with physical disabilities who want to participate in recreational activities, including:
- Adaptive bowling (for both pediatric and adult patients)
- Adaptive cycling
- Adaptive mountain biking
- Adaptive rowing
- Adaptive water aerobics
- Fishing
- Rugby
- Wheelchair basketball
- Wheelchair tennis
Adaptive Sports and Recreation Expo
Through connections with community organizations across South Florida, our Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program connects physically disabled individuals with a wide range of adaptive sports and adaptive recreational activities, which have been modified or redesigned to fit our patients’ unique needs and requirements.
Launched in 2004 as a way to bring awareness to adaptive sports in South Florida, the Adaptive Sports & Recreation Expo is a fun-filled day for people with physical disabilities to enjoy a variety of adaptive sports and activities. Normally held the last Saturday in March at Markham Park in Sunrise, participants can enjoy a variety of adaptive sports, including:
- Adaptive sailing
- Adaptive skiing
- Adaptive scuba diving
- Wheelchair basketball
Join us for our 2023 Adaptive Sports Expo: Water Ski Extravaganza at Markham Park in Sunrise on Saturday, March 18 from 11 am - 2 pm. Register today!
Memorial Sharks Wheelchair Basketball Team
For those who are prevented from playing sports due to a lower limb deficiency, wheelchair basketball is an option. Our players train and play basketball, all while seated in a wheelchair.
Anyone with partial to complete lower limb deficiencies can complete. No experience is necessary. Coaching and training are provided by our knowledgeable staff. Memorial Sharks wheelchair basketball teams have won national championships in back-to-back years, the most recent being the NWBA 2022 Div. III National Championship. For more information, contact Ray Shipman at 954-518-5573.
Contact Us
Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program
Memorial Rehabilitation Institute
Memorial Regional Hospital South
3600 Washington Street
Hollywood, FL 33021
Rayford Shipman
Director, Business Development
Email: rshipman@mhs.net
Phone: 954-518-5573
