title: Sexuality of Disabled Athletes Depending on the Form of Locomotion.
abstract: The main purpose of this study was to determine sexuality of disabled athletes depending on the form of locomotion. The study included 170 disabled athletes, aged between 18 and 45. The entire population was divided into 3 research groups depending on the form of locomotion: moving on wheelchairs (n=52), on crutches (n=29) and unaided (n=89). The research tool was a questionnaire voluntarily and anonymously completed by the respondents of the research groups. The questionnaire was composed of a general part concerning the socio-demographic conditions, medical history, health problems, a part dedicated to physical disability as well as the Polish version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) evaluating sexual life. STATISTICA 10.0 for Windows was used in the statistical analysis. Subjects moving on crutches were significantly older than ones moving on wheelchairs and unaided (34.41 ±11.00 vs. 30.49 ±10.44 and 27.99 ±10.51 years, respectively) (p=0.018). Clinically significant erectile dysfunctions were most often diagnosed in athletes moving on wheelchairs (70.27%), followed by athletes moving on crutches and moving unaided (60% and 35.42%, respectively; p=0.048). Clinical sexual dysfunctions were diagnosed on a similar level among all female athletes. It was concluded that the form of locomotion may determine sexuality of disabled men. Males on wheelchair revealed the worst sexual functioning. Female athletes moving on wheelchairs, on crutches and moving unaided were comparable in the aspect of their sexual life.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Department of Adapted Physical Activity and Sport, Chair of Physiotherapy, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plinta
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Motor Rehabilitation, University School of Physical Education, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sobiecka
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Chair of Woman's Health, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Drosdzol-Cop
authors.affiliation: Institute of Computer Science, Faculty of Computer Science and Material Science, Silesian University, Sosnowiec, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowak-Brzezińska
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences in Katowice, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Chair of Woman's Health, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Violetta
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Skrzypulec-Plinta
keywords: Paralympic games; paralympians; physical activity; sexual functioning
references.citation: J Sex Med. 2004 Jul;1(1):6-23
references.pmid: 16422979
references.citation: J R Coll Physicians Edinb. 2004;34(3):237-43
references.pmid: 18828239
references.citation: Spinal Cord. 2011 Jan;49(1):154-60
references.pmid: 20458327
references.citation: J Sex Med. 2008 Mar;5(3):631-9
references.pmid: 17971103
references.citation: Neuropediatrics. 2010 Aug;41(2):49-54
references.pmid: 20799149
references.citation: Spinal Cord. 2010 Dec;48(12):842-9
references.pmid: 20386552
references.citation: J Spinal Cord Med. 2010;33(3):281-336
references.pmid: 20737805
references.citation: Adapt Phys Activ Q. 2011 Jul;28(3):233-50
references.pmid: 21725116
references.citation: J Sex Marital Ther. 2003 Jan-Feb;29(1):39-46
references.pmid: 12519665
references.citation: Urology. 1999 Aug;54(2):346-51
references.pmid: 10443736
references.citation: Int J Impot Res. 2004 Apr;16(2):167-74
references.pmid: 14973522
references.citation: J Spinal Cord Med. 2009;32(3):226-36
references.pmid: 19810624
references.citation: J Sex Marital Ther. 2000 Apr-Jun;26(2):191-208
references.pmid: 10782451
references.citation: Int J Impot Res. 2002 Aug;14(4):226-44
references.pmid: 12152111
references.citation: Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2011 Jun;69(3):513-8
references.pmid: 21755132