Physical activity from rehabilitation to independent community function: the role of physical activity in...

All ingredients are there--philosophies and principles, models and examples, competent and committed professionals, ready and willing agencies and organizations, and anxious-to-get-involved persons with handicapping conditions. The time has never been so right to go forward and onward to the heights with sport, recreation, and physical activity to produce lives worth living by persons with handicapping conditions. George Washington warned: "We ought not to look back unless it is to derive useful lessons from past errors, and for the purpose of profiting by dearly bought experience." In this case some might advise not to look back at all, because pessimists and disbelievers may be trying to overtake optimists and believers. As Henry David Thoreau stated: "If you build castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." Physical activity, recreation, and sport are important in physical, mental, emotional, and social adjustment of individuals with handicapping conditions. In many cases, active participation in such activities provides more effective and efficient rehabilitation and therapy than formal rehabilitation and therapeutic modalities and approaches. Throughout history some pioneers striving to introduce and use such techniques and approaches have been rebuffed and rejected by many facets of the medical establishment. Often, progress has come from highly committed advocates from various professional specializations with interests in activity programs for their populations. Although progress continues to be made, much greater recognition by and involvement of the medical profession are needed from the classrooms in medical schools, through all internships and residencies, to hospitals and clinics of all types, and among all medical branches and specialties.