• Participation in therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports improves athletic identity, balance/coordination, and perceived competence (Greer et al).
• Low/no harm associated with participation in therapeutic recreation and adaptive sports (Greer et al).
• Adaptive sports participation can be used as a bridge to complement rehabilitation (Diaz et al).
• Participation in group exercise demonstrates substantial improvements in self-reported physical activity, aerobic outcomes, and functional outcomes (Hall et al).

• Exercise and therapeutic activities boost mood (Wheeler et al).
• Therapeutic recreation can help reduce tension, depression, and anger and can improve perceived quality of life, vigor, and perceived personal competence (Wheeler et al, Bettman et al).
• Participation in music therapy bolsters physical and neurological functioning, functional and expressive communication, and social and emotional wellbeing (Bradt et al, Bronson et al).
• Creativity expressed through art therapy can assist with understanding and communicating internal processes (Jones et al).
• Evidence supports the connection between art making and changes in the brain for military service members with TBI and posttraumatic stress.
• Veterans with various medical conditions report higher quality of life with participation in muli-sport adaptive sporting programs (Greer et al).

• Adaptive reconditioning participation creates a “team atmosphere”, an environment which is accepting, normalizing, and non-judgmental (Gettings et al).
• Peer support through participation utilizes the strength of the military and veteran communities; its sense of brother/sisterhood. Peer support helps participants re-engage and re-motivate each other and take a lead in their own respective recovery journeys. (Gettings et al).
• Socialization fosters growth and engagement through the conduit of group cohesion, togetherness, and connectedness (Gettings et al).
• Participants in Veteran adaptive sports offered by the Veterans Administration report “increased friends” and the ability to be competitive as areas most affected by participating in adaptive sporting events (Greer et al).
• Veterans participating in adaptive sports report that participating in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games had a positive impact on employment (Greer et al).

Why are adaptive sports offered as a part of the Adaptive Reconditioning Program?

• Injury and recovery can make Soldiers in Recovery feel like they will never be athletes again. Getting involved in adaptive sports during the recovery process helps Soldiers in Recovery make goals, connect with their athletic identities, and bond with other athletes on their recovery journey. Competition, teamwork, and purpose fuels the inner athlete and inspires Soldiers to set goals and excel. Being a part of a team and connection with others makes a tremendous impact on Soldiers in the recovery process. Participating in Army adaptive sports allows Soldiers in Recovery to connect with their team and be competitive.
• While in the SRU setting, SRs are offered many opportunities to participate in safe adaptive sporting events led by the Adaptive Reconditioning Team, a team of professionals that get recovering Soldiers involved in sports early and safely.
• Since the AR program is individualized, it is easy to balance AR participation with medical appointments, career, and education requirements, etc.
• MANY adaptive sports are offered at the SRUs, but 11 adaptive sports are featured in adaptive sporting events offered to SRs that participate in the Adaptive Reconditioning program.

11 adaptive sporting events are featured at Army Trials, Warrior Games, and Invictus Games.

• 3 Team Sports: Wheelchair rugby, Wheelchair basketball, and Sitting Volleyball
  • Why do we do wheelchair sports and sitting volleyball? They are inclusive and easily adaptive; Most people can play at any stage in their recovery; Gives athletes perspective; They give athletes of all abilities a chance to play together on a team; and THEY ARE FUN!
• Individual Sports:
  • Track (and track chair events)
  • Field (and seated field events)
  • Swimming
  • Cycling (upright bike, hand cycle, recumbent)
  • Indoor Rowing
  • Powerlifting (Adaptive Bench Press)
• Precision Air Sports:
  • Air Pistol/Air Rifle
  • Archery (Recurve and Compound Bows)

Do the sports change?

Sometimes! Adaptive Tennis, Adaptive Table Tennis, Adaptive Winter Sports, and Adaptive Golf events have also been featured in adaptive sporting events!

A wide variety of adaptive sports are offered in the community and VA setting in addition to the sports featured here. Recovering Soldiers that are introduced to adaptive sports while in the SRU setting can get involved and continue to excel in these activities once they transition out of the SRU. Some examples of large-scale adaptive sporting events are Valor Games, Texas Regional Games, National Veterans Wheelchair Games, and more!

Moderate Intensity Physical Activities offered in the SRU

The 14 SRUs offer a wide variety of exciting moderate intensity physical fitness programming led by an experienced team to help recovering Soldiers meet their goals. New offerings are featured regularly; however, the extensive list below is a snapshot of the programming offered across the adaptive reconditioning programs in the 14 SRUs:

Therapeutic Activities

Recovery is not all about physical conditioning! Recovery also encompasses the mental and spiritual domains and therapeutic activities offer opportunities for recovering Soldiers to have fun trying something new while socializing with fellow Soldiers. In addition to interacting with social groups, participating in therapeutic activities assists with cognitive recovery, motor skills, and life skills.

Adaptive reconditioning programs offer a wide variety of therapeutic activities to include: