Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment Approach with Wheelchair Rugby Athletes: A Preliminary Case Study

Abstract

Research on sport psychology interventions involving adaptive athletes remains limited, leaving practitioners with relatively little evidence to guide applied practice. This preliminary study explored the use of the Mindfulness-Acceptance-Commitment (MAC) approach with three wheelchair rugby athletes. Participants completed measures of flow, interoceptive awareness, and mindfulness in sport before the intervention, at its midpoint, and after its completion. Following the intervention, semi-structured interviews provided additional insight into participants’ experiences. Interview responses and researcher observations were used to contextualize individual patterns in questionnaire scores. The findings suggest the MAC approach may have value for wheelchair rugby athletes however, the small sample and descriptive design warrant cautious interpretation and further investigation.