What is dragon boating?
Dragon boating is a fast and furious sport that that involves long, canoe-shaped boats propelled by paddlers who sit in pairs facing forwards. The paddlers paddle to the beat of a drum made by a drummer sitting at the front of the boat, and the boat is steered by a person standing at the back of the boat.
International races are held over distances of 200m, 500m, and 2,000m but local race distances can be quite different.
Races are done using two sizes of boat. ‘Standard’ boats can seat up to 20 paddlers and ‘small’ boats up to 10.
Modern racing boats are made from fibreglass. For race events, boats are ‘dressed’ with a dragon’s head at the front and the dragon’s tail at the rear. These additions recognise the origins of the sport, which were in China over 2,500 years ago, and they add colour and vibrancy to the sport.
Why think about dragon boating for your patients?
Dragon boating offers a range of benefits for people living with impairments. First of all, it offers non-contact physical exercise for the whole body that will particularly help with upper body strength, coordination, and overall flexibility and cardiovascular fitness. Secondly, participation can help improve feelings of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and confidence and will also help with self-discipline. Finally, because it is essentially a social team sport, dragon boating will help people to grow their social circle, improve their inter-personal skills, and bring a lot of fun along the way.
How accessible is it to those living with impairments?
Dragon boating is accessible to virtually anyone. People of all ages can participate. The sport as a whole prides itself on its inclusiveness – it really is a ‘sport for all’. Obviously, some impairments will create greater challenges to participation than others, and not everyone is going to find it easy to join a club. But sometimes a simple phone call from you as a medical practitioner to a club official might be all it takes to get your patient the opportunity to try the sport out.
Some general considerations
The impairments recognised for qualification in the sport of dragon boating as a ‘Paradragon’ are physical, psychological, neurological, sensory, developmental or intellectual. Those living with, or recovered from, cancer are able to access the sport slightly differently. In particular, breast cancer paddlers have their own organisation (https://www.ibcpc.com).
Essentially, provided a person:
- has at least one functioning arm ;
- is able to hear or see instructions ;
- is not suffering from any condition where exercise could be damaging to them or to their recovery; and
- does not have behaviours that would seriously challenge people around them (bearing in mind dragon boat paddlers sit tightly packed in pairs with up to 22 people in a boat)
they should be able to benefit from dragon boating.
Some impairments will of course make it harder for the individual even to travel to and from a club, never mind to actually participate. So the practicalities of getting to training (and racing) must be a factor in any recommendation to try the sport.
IDBF has produced a booklet of tips aimed at dragon boat coaches who have Paradragons in their teams. Although this booklet is not a medical reference, it does provide some insights to the common impairments and some of the consideration when dealing with them. It is probably worth a quick read to complement the material on this page.
Physical impairments can be wide ranging but typically impact on paddling if there is a loss of a limb, or loss of function in a limb.
Dragon boat paddlers deliver power by forcing a paddle downwards into the water. This power is principally generated by the upper body and delivered through the hand holding the handle at the top of the paddle’s shaft. Usually, a paddler will use their other arm to guide and steady the paddle by gripping it towards the lower end of the paddle’s shaft. There are paddles available that can be used by a person with only one functioning arm. Those who have prosthetic arms can usually cope very well provided they have some means of gripping the paddle.
Legs do contribute to a good paddler’s power but, frankly, are not that critical. Provided the paddler is able to stabilise themselves in some way in the boat, they will be fine. Indeed, many paddlers with prosthetic legs will detach them before paddling and leave on the dockside as they are otherwise simply extra weight to be carried by the crew!
Injuries or other issues in the area of the trunk and waist can be more problematic. When paddling, the downward force applied to the paddle can result in the paddler leaning forward. If they are not able to recover to the upright position after each stroke, they will struggle. Mechanical assistance to this recovery is permitted but not easy to implement.
Phycological impairment relates to a wide range of conditions that influence emotions, cognitions and/or behaviours. Conditions include: PTSD, depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.
The key issue for medical practitioners assessing suitability for their patients to participate in dragon boating is behaviour, particularly towards others. If the behaviours are too challenging, it could increase risks to all involved.
The effects of neurological impairments can be varied and multi-faceted. In general, muscle actions, muscle control, and motor skills will present the greatest challenges to participation in dragon boating. But the fierce independence exhibited by some can be very detrimental to teamwork, but also to that person’s ability to conserve energy for when it is needed.
Vision and hearing impairments are the ones that will most commonly present among Paradragons but both are able to be managed with relative ease compared with some other impairments.
Of course, there will be challenges for a vision impaired person when they try to ‘visualise’ an instruction (so the coaching staff in a club in particular will need to be sensitive to this).
For those with hearing impairments, having someone able to use sign language may be an essential requirement for participation.
Intellectual and Developmental impairments
People living with intellectual and developmental impairments often face societal barriers to inclusion in social activities that are not faced by those living with other types of impairment. This can lead to reduced opportunities essential to their social development, health and well-being. In some cases, family members of those affected struggle to provide effective support due to the same societal pressures.
Dragon boating is a sport that can help develop physical fitness and dexterity, while offering a new competitive challenge. More importantly though, because of the numbers of other paddlers in a boat, it will help with social skills, communication, and with developing an understanding of the importance of cooperation and respect for others; they become part of something that goes beyond their previously more limited horizons. These benefits are readily transferable to other arenas such as employment and advocacy work.
Participation can also be transformative for everyone else involved. It will help break down barriers, improve understanding, and promote a more positive attitude to those living with intellectual and developmental impairments.
How to find out more
If you’ve not found the answers yet to your questions about Paradragons and whether or not you can try the sport, then send an email to the Para Athletes Commission.
Ni nini mashua ya joka? Dragon Boating ni mchezo wa kuvutia na wa kuvutia ambao unajumuisha mashua ndefu zenye umbo la mtumbwi zinazosukumwa na wapiga-moto ambao huketi kwa jozi wakikabili mbele. Wanyama hao hupiga makasia kwa mdundo wa ngoma inayopigwa na mpiga-ngoma anayeketi mbele ya mashua, na mashua hiyo inaendeshwa na mtu anayesimama nyuma ya mashua. Mashindano ya kimataifa hufanyika kwa umbali wa mita 200, 500 na 2,000 lakini umbali wa mashindano ya ndani unaweza kuwa tofauti sana. Mashindano hufanywa kwa kutumia mashua za ukubwa mbili. Mashua za kawaida zinaweza kubeba hadi watu 20 na mashua ndogo zinaweza kubeba hadi watu 10. Mashua za kisasa za mashindano hutengenezwa kwa nyuzi za glasi. Kwa ajili ya mashindano ya mbio, mashua ni <unk>dressed<unk> na kichwa cha joka mbele na mkia wa joka nyuma. "Kupatikana kwa viungo hivi kunaonyesha asili ya mchezo huo, ambao ulikuwa nchini China zaidi ya miaka 2,500 iliyopita, na huongeza rangi na nguvu kwa mchezo huo. """ Kwa nini kufikiria juu ya mashua ya joka kwa wagonjwa wako? Mashua za joka hutoa faida mbalimbali kwa watu walio na ulemavu. Hii ni mazoezi ya mwili bila kugusa ambayo husaidia hasa katika nguvu ya mwili wa juu, uratibu, na kubadilika kwa jumla na fitness ya moyo. Kujiunga na kikundi cha watu kunaweza kusaidia kuboresha hisia za kujithamini, ufanisi wa kibinafsi, na ujasiri na pia kusaidia na nidhamu ya kibinafsi. Kwa sababu ni mchezo wa timu, mashua za joka zinaweza kusaidia watu kukuza mzunguko wao wa kijamii, kuboresha ujuzi wao wa kati ya watu, na kuleta furaha nyingi njiani. Je, ni rahisi kwa wale walio na ulemavu? Karibu mtu yeyote anaweza kuendesha mashua ya joka. Watu wa umri wote wanaweza kushiriki. Mchezo kama jumla inajivunia ujumuishaji wake - kwa kweli ni "michezo kwa wote". Ni wazi kwamba baadhi ya ulemavu utaunda changamoto kubwa kwa ushiriki kuliko wengine, na si kila mtu atapata ni rahisi kujiunga na klabu. Wakati mwingine, simu ya kawaida kutoka kwa daktari wako kwa afisa wa klabu inaweza kuwa yote inahitajika ili kupata mgonjwa wako nafasi ya kujaribu mchezo. Baadhi ya kuzingatia ya jumla Ulemavu kutambuliwa kwa ajili ya sifa katika mchezo wa dragon boating kama "Paradragon" ni kimwili, kisaikolojia, neurological, sensory, maendeleo au akili. Wale wanaoishi na, au waliopona kutokana na, kansa wanaweza kupata mchezo huo kwa njia tofauti kidogo. Kwa mfano, wadudu wa kansa ya matiti wana shirika lao wenyewe (https: www.ibcpc.com). "Kama mtu ana angalau mkono mmoja unaofanya kazi, anaweza kusikia au kuona maagizo, hawezi kuugua hali yoyote ambayo mazoezi yanaweza kuwa na madhara kwake au kupona kwake, na hana tabia ambayo inaweza kuwa changamoto kubwa kwa watu wanaomzunguka, ""alisema Dr. Paddler, ""waketi kwa nguvu katika jozi na hadi watu 22 katika mashua.""" Kwa kweli, baadhi ya ulemavu wa mwili hufanya iwe vigumu kwa mtu huyo hata kusafiri kwenda na kutoka kwenye klabu, bila kujali kushiriki. Kwa hiyo mambo ya vitendo ya kufika kwenye mazoezi (na mashindano) lazima yawe jambo katika pendekezo lolote la kujaribu mchezo huo. IDB imetoa kitabu cha ushauri kwa ajili ya makocha wa mashua za joka ambao wana Paradragons katika timu zao. Ingawa kitabu hiki si kiambatisho cha matibabu, hutoa ufahamu wa baadhi ya matatizo ya kawaida na baadhi ya kuzingatia wakati wa kushughulika nao. Yaelekea inafaa kusomwa upesi ili kukamilisha habari iliyo kwenye ukurasa huu. Ulemavu wa kimwili unaweza kuwa pana lakini kwa kawaida athari juu ya paddling kama kuna hasara ya mguu, au hasara ya kazi katika mguu. Mashua za joka hutoa nguvu kwa kulazimisha pikipiki iingie ndani ya maji. Nguvu hii ni hasa zinazozalishwa na mwili wa juu na kutolewa kupitia mkono kushikilia kushikilia juu ya shaft ya paddle ya. Kwa kawaida, paddler atatumia mkono wao mwingine kuongoza na kudumisha paddle kwa kushikilia kuelekea mwisho wa chini wa shaft ya paddle. Kuna magurudumu yanayopatikana ambayo yanaweza kutumiwa na mtu aliye na mkono mmoja tu unaofanya kazi. Wale walio na mikono bandia kwa kawaida wanaweza kukabiliana vizuri sana ikiwa wana njia fulani ya kushikilia kamba. Miguu huchangia nguvu ya mchezaji mzuri wa kupiga makasia lakini, kwa uwazi, si muhimu sana. Kwa masharti kwamba mchezaji wa mashua anaweza kujitegemea kwa njia fulani ndani ya mashua, watakuwa sawa. Kwa kweli, wapiga-meli wengi wenye miguu bandia huiondoa kabla ya kupiga-meli na kuiacha kando ya bandari kwa kuwa vinginevyo ni uzito wa ziada unaobebwa na wafanyakazi! Majeraha au matatizo mengine katika eneo la mwili na kiuno yanaweza kuwa na matatizo zaidi. Wakati wa kupiga makasia, nguvu inayoelekezwa chini kwenye makasia yaweza kumfanya mkasia huyo awe ameelekeza mbele. Ikiwa hawawezi kurudi katika hali ya kusimama wima baada ya kila pigo, watapambana. Msaada wa mitambo kwa ajili ya uokoaji huu inaruhusiwa lakini si rahisi kutekeleza. Uharibifu wa kisaikolojia unahusiana na hali mbalimbali ambazo huathiri hisia, utambuzi na au tabia. Hali hizo zinatia ndani: PTSD, mshuko wa moyo, wasiwasi, schizophrenia, na ugonjwa wa hisia-moyo. Kwa wataalamu wa matibabu, suala muhimu la kutathmini ufaao wa wagonjwa wao kushiriki katika mashua ya joka ni tabia, haswa kwa wengine. Ikiwa tabia hizo ni ngumu sana, inaweza kuongeza hatari kwa wote wanaohusika. Athari za kasoro za neva zaweza kuwa tofauti-tofauti na zenye pande nyingi. Kwa ujumla, utendaji wa misuli, udhibiti wa misuli, na ustadi wa utendaji wa misuli ndio utakaokuwa changamoto kubwa zaidi katika kushiriki katika kuendesha mashua za joka. Lakini uhuru mkali unaonyeshwa na baadhi ya watu unaweza kuwa mbaya sana kwa kazi ya timu, lakini pia kwa uwezo wa mtu huyo wa kuhifadhi nishati wakati inahitajika. Ugonjwa wa kuona na kusikia ni moja ya matatizo ya kawaida ya Paradigm, lakini inaweza kushughulikiwa kwa urahisi zaidi kuliko matatizo mengine. Bila shaka, kutakuwa na changamoto kwa mtu mwenye ulemavu wa kuona wakati wao kujaribu "visualize" maagizo (kwa hivyo wafanyakazi wa kocha katika klabu hasa itabidi kuwa nyeti kwa hili). Kwa wale walio na ulemavu wa kusikia, kuwa na mtu anayeweza kutumia lugha ya ishara huenda ikawa sharti la msingi la kushiriki. Watu walio na ulemavu wa akili na maendeleo mara nyingi wanakabiliwa na vizuizi vya kijamii kwa kuingizwa katika shughuli za kijamii ambazo hazikukabiliwa na wale wanaoishi na aina nyingine za ulemavu. Hii inaweza kusababisha fursa zilizopunguzwa muhimu kwa maendeleo yao ya kijamii, afya na ustawi. Katika visa fulani, washiriki wa familia za wale walioathiriwa hupata ugumu wa kutoa msaada wenye matokeo kwa sababu ya shinikizo hilohilo la jamii. Mashua ya joka ni mchezo ambao unaweza kusaidia kukuza fitness ya kimwili na dexterity, wakati kutoa changamoto mpya ya ushindani. Hata hivyo, kwa sababu ya idadi ya paddlers wengine katika mashua, itasaidia katika ujuzi wa kijamii, mawasiliano, na kuendeleza uelewa wa umuhimu wa ushirikiano na kuheshimu wengine; wao kuwa sehemu ya kitu ambacho huenda zaidi ya horizons yao hapo awali zaidi mdogo. Faida hizi ni urahisi kuhamishwa kwa maeneo mengine kama vile ajira na kazi ya utetezi. Ushiriki pia unaweza kuwa na mabadiliko kwa kila mtu mwingine anayehusika. Itasaidia kuvunja vizuizi, kuboresha uelewa, na kukuza mtazamo mzuri zaidi kwa wale wanaoishi na ulemavu wa akili na ukuaji. Kama bado hujapata majibu ya maswali yako kuhusu Paradragons na kama unaweza kujaribu mchezo huo au la, basi kutuma barua pepe kwa Tume Para Wanariadha.