Overcoming the effects of PTSD and phantom pain in individuals with negative consequences of war trauma through adaptive sports games with small balls

Abstract

Abstract. The publication outlines the problems of the spread of the traumatic effects of war in the form of phantom pain and PTSD; it outlines the basics of comprehensive corrective and rehabilitation work with such people. It is noted that a large part of therapeutic exercises and adaptive motor activity must be included in the complex of corrective and restorative measures. The aim of the study: to determine how the use of adaptive sports games with small balls affects the overcoming of the consequences of PTSD and phantom pain in individuals with negative consequences of war trauma. The research methods used in solving the tasks outlined by us are analysis, systematisation and generalisation of theoretical information on the subject under study, available in educational, methodological and scientific sources, on modern scientometric platforms; methods of assessing the condition of people, such as VAS pain (determination in points); rapid assessment of PTSD levels and self-assessment of health status using the PHQ-9, which are thoroughly described in scientific and methodological literature. Results. An analysis of theoretical sources shows that sports and active games have a positive effect on the human body; they contribute to the restoration of social and communicative ties, and allow the formation of compensatory skills that can later become permanent and be transferred to the daily activities of people with traumatic consequences of war events. These skills will contribute to socialisation, recovery, and readaptation to the actual conditions of functioning in society, which will take into account the degree of health loss of each people. Data from a pedagogical experiment are presented to determine the impact on indicators of pain severity (VAS pain scale), the presence of signs of PTSD (express assessment method), and the manifestation of depression and anxiety (PHQ-9) in military personnel with traumatic effects of war on their lives and health. Conclusions. The positive impact of team sports on the indicators studied in all military personnel has been proven. Accordingly, golf, petanque, curling, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball are recommended as effective means of adaptive sports for war veterans, which should be included in comprehensive programmes aimed at overcoming the traumatic effects of war, in particular phantom pain and signs of PTSD.