Historically, very few sport and exercise psychologists and professionals from related fields such as disability and rehabilitation have conducted thorough research on individuals with disabilities engaged in sport and exercise. The tide is turning, however, as growing media attention and familiarity with the Paralympics and the Wounded Warrior Project begins capturing the attention of researchers everywhere.

By addressing this gap, Jeffrey J. Martin's compelling Handbook of Disability Sport and Exercise Psychology is one of the first comprehensive overviews of this important and emerging field of study. In this volume, Martin, an accomplished professor of sport and exercise psychology, shines a light on a variety of topics ranging from philosophy, athletic identity, participation motivation, quality of life, social and environmental barriers, body image, and intellectual impairments among many other issues. Based on the author's own experience and insight, a majority of these topic discussions in this volume are accompanied by thoughtful directions for future research and exploration.

Designed to spark conversation and initiate new avenues of research, the Handbook of Disability Sport and Exercise Psychology will allow for readers to look outside the traditional literature focusing largely on able-bodied individuals and, instead, develop a much greater perspective on sport and exercise psychology today.

Jeffrey J. Martin's profile page

Jeffrey J. Martin is a Professor in the Division of Kinesiology, Health, and Sport Studies at Wayne State University where he has been for the last 25 years. He has published over 200 research articles and book chapters in sport and exercise psychology. His major research agenda has been on the psychosocial aspects of disability sport and physical activity, investigating topics ranging from performance enhancement for elite Paralympians to the role of physical activity in promoting quality of life for Wounded Warriors. He has supported his and his colleague's research with over 7 million dollars of external funding. He has provided keynote addresses and lectures to audiences in Belgium, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Thailand, and Turkey. He was the founding editor of Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology, the official journal of Division 47 of the American Psychological Association. He is the current editor of the Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, a premier international journal for adapted physical activity and sport for individuals with disabilities. He is also on the Editorial Boards of 5 different journals. As a former professional runner he represented his native Canada at the 1985 and 1987 World Cup Marathons.

"Martin's incisive critique of disability scholarship, comprehensive overview of disability sport and exercise psychology knowledge, and thoughtful presentation of next research opportunities makes his text an instant classic. An accessible and complete volume, the Handbook of Disability Sport and Exercise Psychology will be regarded as the defining resource that catalyzes the next wave of advances on this important topic."

--Alan L. Smith, Professor and Chairperson, Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University

"Jeffrey Martin, a preeminent scholar, in the psychology of disability in sport and exercise, presents the first truly comprehensive textbook addressing the current literature on this topic. This text represent a pinnacle in Dr. Martin's contributions to his discipline that will likely catapult the field and ignite new ideas from investigators and practitioners. This text's unique contribution to the literature is most apparent when considering phenomenological differences between able-bodied versus disabled, movement-associated identity, and considerations for performance enhancement. Not surprisingly, these contributions broaden our knowledge of the human movement experience for both able-bodied and disabled."

--Edmund Acevedo, Professor and Chair, Department of Kinesiology, Virginia Commonwealth University

"A decade in the making, the Handbook of Disability Sport and Exercise Psychology is a tour-de-force, serving as the first major work on the subject. At once authoritative and comprehensive, the Handbook has the breadth and depth more typical of an edited volume, but with the steady, unifying voice of a single author. With coverage of topics ranging from philosophy of science to psychological intervention across the sport and exercise domains, a project of this scope was a Herculean undertaking. Jeffrey Martin was clearly up to the task, crafting an invaluable resource for scholars and practitioners alike."

--Britton W. Brewer, Professor, Department of Psychology, Springfield College

"Jeffrey Martin is widely recognized as the leading scholar on disability sport and exercise psychology, and that expertise comes through in this Handbook. In compiling this volume, Dr. Martin demonstrates the grit of a marathon runner with his attention to detail, persistence and resilience, as well as his thoughtful reflection. Many handbooks summarize research, but unlike many sport and exercise psychology works, this handbook delves deeper into the issues. This book not only provides a wealth of information, but much food for thought."

--Diane L. Gill, Professor, Department of Kinesiology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro