PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OF ATHLETES WITH DISABILITIES BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

UVOD: Glavni cilj ovog istraživanja je utvrditi kako je COVID-19 pandemija utjecala na tjelesnu aktivnost sportaša s invaliditetom. Uvođenjem mjera protiv širenja COVID-19 i straha od zaraze rezultiralo je zatvaranjem sportskih centara, teretana, sportskih klubova, otkazivanjem gotovo svih sportskih aktivnosti i događaja. ISPITANICI I METODE: Istraživanje je provedeno na 30 osoba s invaliditetom s područja Primorsko-goranske županije učlanjene u sportske klubove u trenutku provođenja istraživanja. Istraživanje je provedeno putem online upitnika koji se sastojao od 3 dijela. U prvom djelu su se ispitivali opći podaci ispitanika, u drugom djelu ispitivala se tjelesna aktivnost ispitanika prije COVID-19 pandemije, u trećem se djelu ispitivala tjelesna aktivnost ispitanika od početka COVID-19 pandemije prije godinu dana pa do danas. REZULTATI: Većina ispitanika je prije pandemije trenirala uz pomoć stručnjaka u sportskim centrima dok su tijekom pandemije sportski centri zatvoreni no i dalje većina trenira uz pomoć stručnjaka, ali on-line. Pretpostavka da je većina sportaša manje tjelesno aktivna u vrijeme COVID-19 pandemije, je odbačena. 83% ispitanika je moralo prilagoditi treninge ograničenim uvjetima zbog nedostupnosti uobičajenog načina vježbanja. ZAKLJUČAK: Urbanski i sur. su dokazali kako je ograničeno kretanje utjecalo na sportaše. Samo ih je 5% imalo pristup sportskoj opremi te se vrijeme treniranja skratilo za 48% zbog čega će to utjecati na njihovu performansu tijekom Paraolimpijskih igara u Tokyu 2021. Daljnja istraživanja trebala bi biti provedena s većim brojem osoba s invaliditetom, potencijalno u više županija u Republici Hrvatskoj kako bi se dobila općenitija slika znanja i stavova.INTRODUCTION: The main objective of this study was to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the physical activity of athletes with disabilities. Because of measures against the spread of COVID-19 and the fear of infection resulted in the closure of sports centers, gyms, sports clubs, the cancellation of almost all sports activities and events. RESPONDENTS AND METHODS: The research was proven on 30 people with disabilities who are joined in sports clubs at the time of the research. The research was proven through an online questionnaire consisting of 3 parts. The first part examined the general data of the respondents, the second part examined the physical activity of the respondents before the COVID-19 pandemic, and the third part examined the physical activity of the respondents from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago. RESULTS: Most respondents trained with the help of experts in sports centers before the pandemic, while during the pandemic the sports centers were closed, most still train with the help of experts. but on-line. The assumption that most athletes were less physically active at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic was rejected. 83% of respondents had to adapt their training to limited conditions due to the unavailability of the usual way of exercising. CONCLUSION: Urbanski et al. have proven how limited movement has affected athletes. Only 5% of them had access to sports equipment and training time was shortened by 48%, which will affect their performance during the Paralympic Games in Tokyo in 2021. Further research should be presented with a larger number of people with disabilities, potentially in several counties in Croatia to obtain a more general picture of knowledge and attitudes