Purpose
The project YoungParaHEALTHY - Use of data from para athletes has three main aims:
- Analyze data from the pilot project in collaboration with the user group.
- Follow up with participants from the pilot project to examine whether their participation has been beneficial.
- Communicate insights and recommendations to relevant target groups, with the aim of supporting lifelong participation in sports for persons with disabilities
Background
There is a need for deeper insight into the health challenges faced by Para athletes. This became evident in the ParaHEALTHY (ParaFRISK) project, which showed that Paralympic athletes were, on average, absent from sport for over a month each year due to illness and injuries.
As a follow-up, the pilot project UngParaFRISK – A pilot project for lifelong participation in sport – was launched. The aim was to support lifelong participation in sport, and the project collected data on health related issues from 153 Para athletes aged 16 to 40. The participants represented a wide range of summer and winter sports, as well as various types of disabilities. All participants exercised weekly for at least one year.
The ongoing project YoungParaHEALTHY – Use of data from Para Athletes – builds on this data. It investigates health challenges among younger Para athletes to increase knowledge about what promotes participation and good health in para sports.
Project Design and Methods
Pilot project - Design and method:
Data collection for YoungParaHEALTHY– a pilot project for lifelong participation in sport was conducted between April 2024 and June 2025.
Target group:
- • Aged 16–40
- • With visual and/or mobility impairments
- • Have exercised weekly for at least one year
The project targeted athletes exercised regularly, regardless of performance level. This included both sport-specific training and general physical activity such as cardio and strength exercises.
Exercise was defined as any activity that raises heart rate and induces sweating, or aims to maintain or improve physical skills.
Data collection:
- Step 1: Participants completed a digital questionnaire via AthleteMonitoring.
- Step 2: Shortly after, each participant had a video consultation with a physician.
During the consultation, athletes received personalized advice on preventing and managing illness and injuries, along with written information on relevant health topics.
If further follow-up was needed or requested, they were referred to their general practitioner or a hospital.
Follow-up project - Design and methodology:
The ongoing YoungParaHEALTHY project is built around three key components:
1. Collaborative Data Analysis
We are working closely with a user group to review and interpret the extensive data collected during the pilot phase. This group includes representatives from patient and advocacy organizations, as well as current and former Paralympic athletes and coaches.
2. Participant Follow-Up
All previous participants will be invited to a brief follow-up. They will receive a short questionnaire and will be offered a consultation with a physician to reflect on whether the project was beneficial to them.
If you are a participant in the project, you can find more information below.
3. Sharing Insights and Recommendations
Findings from the data analysis and follow-up will be used to develop practical advice for the target audience. These insights will be shared through relevant channels to promote lifelong participation in sport for individuals with disabilities.
For Participants Contacted for Follow-Up in YoungParaHEALTHY
Thank you for taking part in UngParaFRISK! We’re now entering the next phase of the project, where we follow up with everyone who participated.
When Will You Be Contacted?
You’ll be contacted about one year after your previous consultation.
What Does the Follow-Up Involve?
You will first be asked to complete a short questionnaire, which includes questions about:
- Whether the advice you received was helpful
- How you’ve been doing since your last consultation
- Any feedback you would like to share with UngParaFRISK
After submitting the questionnaire, you will be invited to a follow-up consultation—ideally with the same doctor as before. This conversation will give you the opportunity to elaborate on your answers and share your experiences.
How Long Does It Take?
The entire follow-up takes between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on how much you wish to share.
Win a Gift Card!
By participating in the follow-up, you’re automatically entered into a draw to win a universal gift card worth NOK 3,000! We draw one winner for every 50 participants.
Implications
In the short term, we want each participant to have received concrete and useful advice related to health challenges, leading to increased participation in sports.
In the longer term, the goal is to develop evidence-based measures that promote both physical and mental health, and enable lifelong participation in Para sports.
We also aim to share our findings with relevant audiences to:
- Increase understanding of health challenges among Para athletes
- Highlight which diseases and injuries need better treatments
- Emphasize support resources that more people can benefit from
Findings and results
Training videos adapted for the visually impaired and blind
UngParaFRISK has collaborated with Fit to Play (Skadefri) and the Norwegian Association of the Blind to create six training videos adapted for the visually impaired and blind. Read about the collaboration on Fit to Play.
The videos have different themes:
- everyday training
- balance and coordination
- strength training (level 1 and 2)
- endurance training (level 1 and 2).
They last between 13-20 minutes and are made with audio interpretation and good contrasts.
Watch the training videos here!
PS: Here you will find several other exercises for those who do para sports.
