Muévete Sin Límites: A Holistic Basketball Tournament Model for Inclusion, Education, and Professional Development
General description of the project
Muévete Sin Límites: A Holistic Basketball Tournament Model for Inclusion, Education, and Professional Development
The Muévete Sin Límites Basketball Tournament is a groundbreaking initiative that integrates arts, health education, mindfulness, and adaptive sports into a unified platform to promote inclusion, wellness, and professional growth. Developed as part of the Passion Driven Project capstone experience at Universidad Central del Caribe (UCC), this holistic model exemplifies interdisciplinary innovation and real-world application of biomedical knowledge combined with Lifestyle Medicine principles. The first edition, held in May 2024, in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, united adapted basketball teams and healthcare students in a unique environment and demonstrated the feasibility of a replicable, community-centered approach that transforms healthcare education.
Activities included:
• Interactive Inclusion Stations: These featured fine motor skills games, art therapy, and social-emotional engagement activities designed for athletes with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and ADHD.
• Team Ushering: Students guided teams through games and stations, ensuring a seamless and inclusive experience while learning critical communication skills with athletes and caregivers.
• Unified Game: A special basketball match integrating students and athletes, fostering teamwork, empathy, and collaboration.
• Training Sessions: Pre-event workshops prepared students to engage directly with individuals with diverse abilities, emphasizing patient-first interaction and sensitivity.
Technologies
The integration of technology into the “Muévete Sin Límites Basketball Tournament” enhances both communication and visibility, fostering a stronger social connection between students and athletes. One key aspect is creating a digital communication platform, such as a WhatsApp group or an event app, which enables seamless interaction between students, athletes, and their families. This allows chiropractic students to provide personalized support, share important information about stations and games, and ensure an inclusive experience for all participants. This direct communication fosters trust and strengthens relationships between students and athletes, especially those with functional diversity.
Another important integration is through photography and social media. Professional photographers can capture key moments of the tournament, showcasing the athletes’ achievements and the inclusive atmosphere. These images can be shared across social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, increasing the event’s visibility and raising awareness about the importance of inclusion in sports. Students, athletes, and their families can also share their personal experiences, further amplifying the message. This approach not only promotes the event but also encourages social interaction, allowing participants to feel recognized and appreciated. By leveraging technology in this way, the tournament will create a connected, inclusive community while promoting awareness about functional diversity.
Explain project results
Evaluation results demonstrated the success of the holistic model:
• Student Feedback: Participants highlighted significant personal and professional growth, reporting improved competencies in teamwork, cultural sensitivity, and adaptability.
• Competency Outcomes: Assessments revealed notable advancements in biomedical knowledge application, communication skills, clinical reasoning, professionalism, and creativity.
• Community Impact: The tournament exemplified Lifestyle Medicine principles by promoting health and wellness for underserved populations.
The “Muévete Sin Límites Basketball Tournament” successfully achieved several key results and accomplishments aligned with its objectives of promoting inclusion, education, and community engagement. The event brought together students from the Universidad Central del Caribe, athletes with functional diversity, and the broader community in a collaborative setting that encouraged interaction, mutual respect, and learning.
One of the major accomplishments was the hands-on experience provided to chiropractic students. They had the opportunity to interact directly with athletes at various stations, particularly the adjustment station, where students practiced techniques that can help individuals with functional diversity manage physical discomfort. This practical exposure allowed the students to develop critical skills for treating diverse patient populations, fostering a deeper understanding of the needs of individuals with physical, developmental, or intellectual disabilities.
The special basketball game between students and athletes was another highlight. It promoted teamwork, empathy, and communication, allowing both groups to engage in an inclusive and fun environment while breaking down barriers. The game was not only a fun activity but also served as a symbol of integration, highlighting how athletes with functional diversity can be part of mainstream sports.
Why it should be considered best practice?
The Muévete Sin Límites Basketball Tournament is a scalable, adaptable, and holistic approach to health education that bridges academia and community impact. It fosters professional growth, community engagement, and inclusion,
This project exemplifies how interdisciplinary collaboration, active learning, and community engagement can transform healthcare education. It establishes a replicable, scalable framework for academic programs to integrate education, service, and holistic health initiatives, making a meaningful impact on diverse populations.
Highlights of your proposed presentation
The proposed “Muévete Sin Límites Basketball Tournament” aims to foster inclusion, collaboration, and awareness in an engaging and educational environment. The event’s primary goal is to bring together students, athletes with functional diversity, and the community, creating a space where integration is not only encouraged but actively practiced.
Key highlights of the presentation include the active participation of chiropractic students, who will engage directly with athletes, providing real-time assistance and learning how to interact with individuals with functional diversity. The event will include several stations, such as an adjustment station where students can practice hands-on techniques to help athletes manage physical stress during the event. This will be complemented by other interactive areas like games and crafts that stimulate fine motor skills, social behaviors, and emotional well-being.
Additionally, the tournament will feature a special game between students and athletes with functional diversity to further promote teamwork, communication, and empathy. Students will also receive training on how to approach individuals with functional diversity, ensuring they can interact in an informed and respectful manner.
A major outcome will be the strengthened communication between chiropractic students and athletes. This will help students develop vital professional skills that can be applied to treating diverse populations in their future careers. Another anticipated outcome is the increased awareness and social integration of individuals with functional diversity through sport. Finally, the event will utilize social media platforms to share these moments, broadening the impact of the tournament and promoting the value of inclusion in the community.
The Evaluation Committee will evaluate submitted proposals based on the following criteria. Each area will be rated on a scale from 1 to 5 (1= non-satisfactory; 5 =outstanding), for a maximum of 45 points.