SPORTS FOR THE PHYSICAL AND SPORTS REHABILITATION OF WAR VETERANS: ANALYSIS OF INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC PRACTICE

Abstract

Introduction. Physical and sports rehabilitation is one of the components of physical culture (Law of Ukraine On Physical Culture and Sports). The variety of forms and means of physical culture and sports allows taking into account the peculiarities, possibilities, and preferences of a war veteran. The results of the analysis of English-language sources of the Google Scholar search engine showed the presence of a large number of scientific works devoted to the use of sports for the rehabilitation of war veterans, and their number has been growing significantly since the 1980s to the present day. Ukrainian-language content on this topic appeared mainly after 2014, and the intensity of publications increased after the full-scale invasion. The current issue remains the study of international experience in the use of sports for the rehabilitation and integration of war veterans into civilian life, as a more long-term, thorough, and versatile. Objective: generalization of international practices of physical and sports rehabilitation of war veterans, which can form the basis of domestic strategies and concepts of work with this contingent. Methods: analysis (including literary sources, documentary materials); synthesis and generalization; comparison; system approach. Results. Analysis of programs of international complex competitions of war veterans and persons with disabilities, the Register of recognized sports in Ukraine allowed to identify and form groups of sports for the rehabilitation of war veterans with the most common violations. Generalization of the experience of the USA and Great Britain in the use of sports for physical and sports rehabilitation of military personnel who participated in hostilities allowed to highlight the following features: mandatory inclusion in the rehabilitation program of sports (if possible, different ones); orientation to sports included in the programs of the Invictus Games, Warrior Games and Paralympic Games, active use of sports related to the natural environment (especially water sports); functioning of both state programs and public projects for sports; training programs are implemented both at military bases and at civilian facilities; almost simultaneous introduction by these countries of international complex competitions for war veterans; the importance of regular classes is emphasized; creating conditions for family and friends to be nearby; it is desirable for the coach to have personal military experience, etc. Conclusions. A pressing issue for our state is the search for effective mechanisms for involving war veterans in physical and sports rehabilitation and regular sports. The choice of sports for classes is determined by the following factors: the presence or absence of disability/injury, their type; the stage of rehabilitation; the degree of damage to the body and the level of motor capabilities; personal preferences and previous experience; the rules of the sport; the level of material and technical support, natural conditions, available coaching staff, etc. The main guidelines are the sports of the programs: Paralympic and Deaflympic Games, as well as Invictus Games, Warrior Games. Foreign experience, in particular the USA and Great Britain, is valuable for domestic specialists when organizing events for physical and sports rehabilitation of war veterans, including those with disabilities.