Improving the quality of life of patients so that, even with reduced residual motor and cognitive abilities, they can always live to the fullest of their possibilities: this is the aim of the new educational project 'Olympics in a wheelchair', designed for the guests of the Macomer RSA.

The sports-motor activities of 'The Wheelchair Olympics', introduced into the facility's weekly psycho-pedagogical programme, are the result of the collaboration between the psychologist and pedagogue, with the aim of automating the residual motor skills of each patient: the readapted sports, including slalom courses between skittles, outdoor bowling, basketball, target shooting and bowling, are designed to help guests gain more confidence and self-esteem, thus restoring their confidence in their own movements.

"Taking into account the peculiarities of the guests, we work on initial motivation and tolerance to frustration and negative emotions, making them more resilient: with this project, physiotherapy and pedagogy, movement and perception, motor skills and cognitive activity are combined. The importance of movement does not lie, in fact, in the strength of the muscle itself, but rather in the fact that the motor gesture allows one to get in touch with one's surroundings, regaining confidence in one's own body,' said the facility team.