# Assessment of Health-Related Behaviors and Physical Activity of Wheelchair Fencers
## 1 Introduction  
Disabled people have the same needs as the non-disabled. Disability causes a high number of difficulties, including limitations of functioning in personal, social, and professional life. There are also additional needs resulting from disability at the level of medical, psychological, professional, social, and welfare due to the choice of a specific lifestyle and way of rehabilitation. Sports for people with disabilities were developed to be the final stage and continuation of rehabilitation, and their main purpose was for therapeutic value. They are currently growing in popularity. Technology to support specific dysfunctions is also developing rapidly, making it possible to expand the groups of people adapted to practicing sports. A major influence on the change in the approach to the process of improving people with disabilities has been the use of sports forms in rehabilitation, especially from mainly hospital-based solutions for community and social rehabilitation [1].  
Physical activity prevents the development of many diseases of both body and mind. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease by more than 50% (especially the risk of death from heart attack). Physically active people, both men and women, have about 20-30% lower risk of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. In people with high levels of physical activity, long-term studies have found reductions incancer death rates in the range of 25-30%. Regular exercise is also critical in the prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity. Physical activity benefits mental performance and is a protective factor against memory disorders. Exercise reduces the incidence of depression and the risk of dementia due to cerebrovascular disease [2; 3; 4; 5]. The consequences of hypokinesia, or insufficient physical activity, also include muscle atrophy and a reduction in muscle strength and endurance, which result in poorer human functional capabilities. Current WHO guidelines on physical activity for children and adolescents with disabilities call for devoting at least 60 min a day to moderate to vigorous activity, mainly aerobic. Guidelines for adults with disabilities recommend performing at least 150 to 300 min of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity, at least 75 to 150 min of high-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of the two training intensities throughout the week. Adults should also perform muscle-strengthening exercises involving all major muscle groups two or more days a week [6]. It is also important to take care of other elements of a healthy lifestyle, such as diet, sleep, and mental conditioning, in addition to regular activity.  
Parafencing is a sport for people using wheelchairs. These may be people with physical disabilities such as limb amputations, spinal cord injuries, or neurological diseases that impair the musculoskeletal system. Parafencing is one of the most popular sports for people with disabilities. However, there are not many scientific articles about it. The physiological and biomechanical aspects of training of wheelchair fencers have been the most studied [7; 8; 9; 10; 11]. Not many works show topics connected with lifestyle and social rehabilitation [12; 13]. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to recognize the level of selected health-related behaviors and physical activity in people with disabilities involved in wheelchair fencing.