Analyses of Physical and Physiological Responses during Competition in Para-Footballers with Cerebral Palsy: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Classification of athletes in cerebral palsy (CP) football is a key action that aims to promote the participation of all players by minimizing the impact of their physical disabilities on the outcome of the competition by establishing sports classes. As such, a new research line has been included in the classification process at an international level; that is, the analysis of locomotor demands during competition helps classifiers to understand the para-footballers’ profile. Therefore, the main aim of this systematic review was to summarize the physical and physiological responses of players with CP in different sport classes during competition. Methods: A bibliographic search was conducted using PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web Of Science databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines using the PICOS strategy. Results: Six studies meeting inclusion criteria analyzing physical (i.e., total distances, distances at different speeds, high-intensity and short-term actions, change of directions, etc.) and physiological (heart rate (HR), time spent at different zones of maximum HR, etc.) responses. Findings revealed that para-footballers with CP and minimal impairment impact covered greater total and distance above 23.04 km·h−1 and achieved higher maximum speeds during match-play. Notably, no significant differences in physiological responses were observed based on classification. Conclusions: The research suggests that para-footballers with CP and lower physical impairment may exhibit enhanced performance in terms of distance covered and speed during gameplay, highlighting their potential competence in the sport. In addition, the limited number of studies examining the physiological response of para-footballers prevents conclusive results and differentiating between classification groups.