Courtesy Photo | Soldiers dressed as Spiderman and Venom participate in the superhero themed wheelchair...... read more read more
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Soldiers boost morale in therapy
By MaryTherese Griffin, Warrior Care and Transition
ARLINGTON, Va. – Getting your life back on track as a Soldier with an illness or injury can be daunting and even depressing. U.S. Army Spc. Trevor Hunter and Spc. Drew Joyner came up with an idea to help boost morale at the Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Carson, Colorado. As superhero fans, the two decided it would be fun to dress as superheroes during a wheelchair basketball therapy event. Rachel Bennatt, Transition Coordinator at Fort Carson WTB, says they encourage Soldiers to get more involved in their recovery by suggesting ideas like this.
“It helps the Soldiers be invested in the Adaptive Reconditioning Program when they see their ideas come to fruition. It is important for the Soldiers in transition to contribute to the morale of the battalion.”
High morale is a great asset to recovery and the team element of wheelchair basketball is a morale booster in and of itself, according to Bennatt. “You're building great friendships and bonds while participating in a team sport. Wheelchair basketball helps with coordination and motivating the Soldier to get back out there and play a sport they could possibly love.”
Wheelchair basketball takes a good deal of skill and multitasking and can be played by both able-bodied people and those with physical limitations. Being able to control the ball, the chair, and paying attention to open teammates takes practice plus some extra body strength. The added theme of playing against superheroes made this adaptive sport that much more enjoyable for the Soldiers in transition.
“[Wheelchair basketball] is challenging because of the fact that you cannot jump to shoot, so you have to use all of your arm strength,” said Spc. Peyton Schwarz Schwarz who is in the WTB recovering from a spinal cord injury he suffered after a fall from the back of a Stryker. “I loved the superhero idea too. I thought it made the game more fun and was a good way to let loose.”
For those wondering, the Soldier heroes beat the Superhero team on the court, but both teams are winning in their adaptive reconditioning program.
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.05.2018 17:28 |
| Story ID: | 298866 |
| Location: | ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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