Active living and sports

Sports open up a whole new world of possibilities to people with disabilities. Some people engage in sports to become more active; others want to increase their level of fitness, and others simply enjoy moving about or having fun with other people. Or all these things. Back when Ottobock began supporting Paralympic athletes over 30 years ago, the introduction of special carbon springs radically improved athletic performances at the Paralympic Games. Over the following years, we continued to work hand in hand with role models from the world of sports in order to optimise our sports products and services. New methods and products were tested – with the aim of providing better support not only to top-level athletes but to children and recreational athletes as well. Today, those who look for them will almost always find appropriate opportunities to engage in individual sports or team sports, and suitable sports equipment as well. When it comes to choosing or using the right prosthesis or wheelchair for the respective sport, for example, a few tips can be a big help for newcomers in particular. One thing we have learned from sports – and this applies to professionals and amateurs alike – is that you can often achieve so much more tomorrow than you believe possible today.

Exercising and engaging in sports benefits our bodies and our minds. When people become active for the first time – or regain their mobility – their faces speak volumes. Individual circumstances can differ widely. So can the motives. Exercising your cardiovascular system, maintaining personal mobility, unwinding, leading an active life and overcoming challenges – these are all good reasons for people with and without disabilities to take up a sport. But where do you begin? On the following pages, we provide information and examples to help newcomers get started.