Cerebral Palsy Sport commissioned Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre to evaluate the delivery and impact of its three adapted sports; RaceRunning, frame football and touch golf.

They found that by modifying rules and equipment they could enable and encourage more people to take part and enjoy sport and physical activity.

The study examined each sport to establish if it was fit for purpose and understand the impact that taking part has on participants.

The new report, entitled "CP Sport: showing the benefits of adapted sports" and accessible here, highlights key findings about current participation levels in these adapted sports.

It also highlights people’s motivations, barriers to taking part, and how being active makes participants feel physically and mentally.

Twenty-three per cent of survey respondents did not take part in any form of physical activity before taking part in one or more adapted sports.

Nine in 10 people who have taken part in CP Sport’s adapted sports said it was fun and enjoyable, while 83 per cent of participants said the activities help them to keep physically active.

Since taking part in an adapted sport, participants reported that they are now physically active more often with an average increase of 45 minutes per day.

Seventy-seven per cent of participants feel that their self-esteem and confidence has improved as a result of taking part in an adapted sport.

Furthermore, it is claimed there was a significant increase in people’s feelings of overall life satisfaction after taking part in CP Sport’s adapted sport activities.

Life satisfaction scores are said to have increased from a mean score of 3.13 up to 4.46.

This is based on a one-to-five scale with one being "poor" and five being "excellent".

"Adapted sports is at the heart of our charity’s sports development programme and we are delighted to have worked with Sheffield Hallam University’s Sport Industry Research Centre on such an important piece of research into adapted sports for people with cerebral palsy," said Ali Talbot, chief executive of Cerebral Palsy Sport.

"The findings from this study highlight the impact and need to develop adapted sports, to meet the needs of people with cerebral palsy and other impairments, who want to be more physically active and take part in sport."

She added: "We are indebted to the many individuals and families that have supported this research project and contributed to its unique findings. 

"We look forward to working with our partners to develop the adapted sports of RaceRunning, frame football and touch golf so many more people can access these sporting opportunities."

The research results follow the recent announcement from World Para Athletics that RaceRunning will be included in competitions from next year.

A selective RaceRunning programme will be part of the 2018 World Para Athletics European Championships in Germany’s capital Berlin, due to take place from August 20 to 26.

Currently governed by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), RaceRunning was first introduced more than 25 years ago in Denmark for athletes with high support needs.

Competitors use a three-wheeled frame to provide support as they race around the track.

World Para Athletics and CPISRA have been in discussions over recent years about increasing the participation of athletes with more severe coordination impairment.

The basis of the current proposal is to recognise RaceRunning as an athletics track discipline and a replacement for the current T31 and T32 classes.

It is claimed the announcement and the latest research provides further confirmation that Cerebral Palsy Sport’s work to develop and deliver adapted sports has been successful.

"We will continue to put people with cerebral palsy and other associated conditions at the heart of what we do," Talbot said. 

"This research provides us with a great platform to improve our adapted sport opportunities so that more people can enjoy being active and reach their full potential in sport."

Cerebral Palsy Sport says it will use the insight it has gained to help grow the profile of adapted sports.

It also intends to continue to educate partners and other sports organisations on how they can adapt sports to make them more accessible and appealing to people with cerebral palsy.

In the future, Cerebral Palsy Sport also plans to expand on the research to review its other activities and sports programmes, and develop more opportunities with national governing bodies of sport.