SF-36 Health Survey in Disabled Sitting Volleyball Players in Japan

Abstract

We obtained and analyzed personal health and QOL of 145 players participating in the 2002 Japan Sitting Volleyball Goodwill Games in Hakuba, Japan. QOL was measured by the SF-36 Health Survey providing 8 specific categories of physical and emotional scores summarized into 2 main scores: the Physical Component Score (PCS) and Mental Component Score (MCS). There were 42 players with disabilities and 103 players without any disabilities. There were significant differences between the two groups of participants in physical functioning, role physical, and social functioning among the 8-scale profile functional health and well-being scores, and physical component summary in summary measures (p<0.05). Even though our research showed that almost all of the sitting volleyball players with disabilities could move by themselves, they felt difficulties in several categories of physical functioning and role physical. Considering our results, participation in sitting volleyball may contribute to improve disabled players' QOL. This research indicates that SF-36 is a useful survey for the QOL of people playing sitting volleyball with and without disabilities.