All of a sudden everything has changed: The role of clinical sport and therapeutic physical exercise after spinal cord injury

Specialized multidisciplinary therapy increases the chances of possible optimal treatment results after spinal cord injury. The sport therapist is an important player in the multidisciplinary team. Clinical sport and therapeutic physical exercise are regarded as intervention measures which in combination with other therapeutic sectors pursue the objective of strengthening the psycho-social resources as well as broadening one’s ability to be active. By way of example, this article offers an overview of the initiatives of the German Organisation for Wheelchair Sports which works closely with the centres for spinal cord injury in Germany. In this context, wheelchair sport is used as a platform for those with spinal cord injury by employing, intensifying and expanding the abilities and skills acquired from the clinics.