DPT students take to the court to deepen community connections
Twenty Radford University Doctor of Physical Therapy students and faculty took the court and helped introduce the community to wheelchair basketball in July at the 2nd Annual No Dunking Allowed Wheelchair Basketball Event at Roanoke College.
The Radford contingent of students and faculty also scrimmaged the Roanoke Stars and the nationally ranked Charlottesville Cardinals of the National Wheelchair Basketball Association.
“This was another unique and valuable interaction with the community that shows our students going above and beyond their regular classroom work,” said Daniel Miner, assistant professor of physical therapy. “It was a fun way improve disability awareness and share the joy of adaptive sports.”
Wheel Love, affiliated with the United Spinal Association, began as a support group for individuals and family members of those with spinal cord injury in Southwest Virginia. The organization also serves individuals with various neurological disorders by providing support, education and facilitating their participation in adaptive sporting and recreational activities.
The promotion of adaptive sporting and recreational events, such as kayaking, bowling and wheelchair basketball brings Radford DPT students together with those with spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders to share the healthy benefits of active participation. According to Miner, the Radford DPT participation was part of the DPT’s program’s ongoing effort to engage its students in the community and enhance their skill sets.
DPT students, led by Miner, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy Kevin Parcetich and Adjunct Professor Kellen Smith, have also developed educational resource materials related to spinal cord injury and neurological conditions that are published on the Wheel Love website.
The No Dunking Allowed Wheelchair Basketball Event was the subject of a pair of local television news stories and they can be viewed on the WSLS 10 website and on the WFXR 21/27 website.