Drivers and barriers to experience in adaptive sporting events: A systematic review and call for further research

Adaptive sports offer active duty members and Veterans with physical or psychological injuries the opportunity to engage in sports with a focus on psychosocial recovery, rehabilitation, and overall well-being. This rapid review examined the experiences of competitors and their families and friends in the Invictus Games, Warrior Games, and winter adaptive sports programs to identify primary facilitators and barriers influencing participation.

Following Cochrane and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Rapid Reviews (PRISMA-RR) guidelines, the authors reviewed 156 articles, applying self-determination theory as an analytical framework.

For competitors, social relatedness (e.g., camaraderie) and competence (e.g., goal attainment, skill mastery) emerged as the primary motivators. For family and friends, witnessing competitor growth and progress was the main motivator. Key barriers for both groups included competitive pressures and limited resources, which sometimes conflicted with the rehabilitative goals of these programs.

Adaptive sports programming should consider the motivations of individual participants, as well as those of their family and friends, in its design. This review underscores the need for strategies that support sustainable, meaningful participation and informed policy and support practices that respect the rehabilitative ethos of adaptive sports.