Case report: benefits of swimming for a person with cerebral palsy

Abstract

Swimming is considered one of the most complete sports and it can provide numerous health benefits, both for individuals in general and for people with physical disabilities, such as, development of sensitivity, body perception, allowing the person to get acquainted, having a notion of his body, its limits and its possibilities. The practice of physical exercises for people with physical disabilities can represent an improvement in social interaction, improvement of self-esteem, making it overcome. With the increase in the demand for people with physical disabilities for swimming, aimed at improving health and quality of life, this study was applied to describe the benefits of swimming for a student with Cerebral Palsy. This research was developed through a case study and had a qualitative and exploratory character. The sample consisted of a 32-year-old volunteer student with Cerebral Spastic Paralysis who practiced swimming twice a week in the city of Três Corações. The researcher conducted an interview and a questionnaire with 12 open and closed questions for the volunteer and his mother to know the opinion about the benefits of swimming. To maintain the trustworthiness of the responses, the volunteer and his mother responded without interference from third parties. It is concluded that, based on the reports of the volunteers, with the practice of swimming, there was an improvement in self-esteem, its independence, socialization and motor aspect, and therefore, it can be said that swimming is beneficial and is indicated for people with Cerebral Palsy.