Activity Title:​ Adaptive Bowling

Sources:
Adaptive Bowling of Manufacturing Genuine Thrills Inc. (October 29, 2009) Retrieved from

https://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/bowling.htm

Capital Bowl (January 27, 2021). Health Benefits of Bowling

https://capitol-bowl.com/health-benefits-of-bowling/#:~:text=Exercise%2C%20including

%20bowling%2C%20lowers%20your,each%20week%20for%20optimum%20benefits​.

Shepherd Center. (Retrieved 2021). Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: Symptoms and Prognosis

https://www.shepherd.org/patient-programs/spinal-cord-injury/levels-and-types/Cervical-

Spinal-Cord-Injury

IKAN Bowler Wheel Chair System (Retrieved 2021).

https://ikanbowler.com/

Equipment Needed:

1. Power wheelchairs
2. IKAN Bowler (a ramp for the bowling ball)
3. Universal Mount
4. 10 Bowling Pins
5. Bowling balls
6. Flat service for lane, or lane at bowling alley
7. A caddy (a helper to place the bowling ball on)
8. Individual activity or group of 5-6
9. Pencil or paper to keep track of scores (caddy can write and keep track of score if
necessary)
10. An assistant/caddy

Activity Description​: Bowling is an activity that can help with stress relief and can also provide
opportunity to practice strategizing. It also uses cognitive stimulation with the use of
concentration. Bowling can provide an opportunity to socialize in teams and compete against
other people while playing the sport. Bowling can also give a chance to challenge oneself and
strive to improve one's score. For people who are experiencing a C 1-8 spinal cord injury this
activity can provide an opportunity to relieve stress with a fun competitive game.

Rules:
Individual Rules:
1. Have a helper (caddy) place the ball on the IKAN ramp while, listening to the directions
of the bowler
2. After the ball has been placed on the IKAN Bowler by the caddy the participants will use
their power chair to move to the lane not passing the fowl line
3. Try and knock down as many pins as possible
4. The participant will control the speed, direction, and timing of the release of the ball
depending on how the participant moves the wheelchair. For example the speed and
direction of the chair will determine the ball movement.
5. After every two rolls in a frame track the score to see the points you got at the end of that
particular frame. After 10 frames add up all the scores. Play another round and see if you
broke your previous score/record.

Team Rules:
1. Have a helper (caddy) place the ball and the caddy will listen to the directions of the
bowler
2. After the ball has been placed on the IKAN Bowler by the caddy the participants will use
their power chair to move to the lane not passing the fowl line
3. Try and knock down as many pins as possible
4. The participant will control the speed, direction, and timing of the release of the ball
depending on how quick or slow the participant moves the wheelchair, as well as the
direction the chair is tilting.
5. Participants should be taking turns one person from one team and then one person from
the other team will go.
6. Participants should track their scores after every frame (which is two rolls)
7. The team with the highest score of pins knocked down at the end of the 10 frames (or
rounds) wins

Primary Interaction Pattern​: The game can be inter-group because it is two intra groups working
in a competitive nature against each other. The activity can also be aggregate because someone
can play this activity independently around others who are doing the same activity and putting
their focus towards an object.

Adaptations​: The cervical section 1-7 of the spinal cord is the upper section of the vertebrae in
the neck. Damage or injury to the cervical section of the spine is the most severe of the spinal
cord injuries. Usually the higher the injury to the spine the more severe. Cervical damage results
in quadriplegia or tetraplegia. Tetrapelgia or quadriplegia means that below the neck feeling is
absent with little to no movement possible. People with a C 1-8 injury also can have difficulty
speaking and breathing independently. The paralysis usually affects a person's arms, hands, trunk
and legs.
Bowling can be adapted for spinal cord injuries with a number of different adaptive
equipment and tools. A power wheelchair for example can be instrumental in allowing the
participant to move independently and control the ball movement. A IKAN bowler is a piece of
equipment that is a ramp that attaches to a power wheelchair. This allows the participants to have
control of the rolling and release of the ball during the game with the movement of their
wheelchair. A universal mount can help attach this ramp to the power wheelchair. Another
adaptation that can be helpful for people with C 1-8 spinal cord injury in bowling is the use of an
assistant or caddy. This assistant can help pick up the ball and place it on the IKAN ramp, so the
participant can roll the ball. The assistant can also help with writing down or keeping score for
the individual or teams.

Participant:​ 21 year old man with C 1-8 Spinal Cord Injury