Paralympic Athletes Research Articles

Instantaneous velocity estimation for the four swimming strokes using a 3-axis accelerometer: Validation on paralympic athletes

Inertial measurement unit systems (IMU) are increasingly used in sports. However, no algorithm evaluating the instantaneous swimming velocity has been validated on the four swimming strokes, or on dive start. Our objective is to develop and validate a new method to measure instantaneous swimming velocity on athletes presenting various musculoskeletal and neurological impairments and swimming one of the four swimming strokes. Seven Paralympic athletes were involved and performed a total of 18 trials of 50 m in real conditions. All trials were recorded with a 3-axis accelerometer, a tethered device and a video camera. The instantaneous velocity was computed by drift-free integration of the forward acceleration. For all trials, Bland–Altman analyses showed a bias of 0.03–0.06 m.s−1 with the tethered device, with 95% LOA lower than 0.31–0.80 m.s−1, RMSE was 0.14–0.39 m.s−1, and ICC amounted 0.494–0.941. No significant difference was found for the mean 50 m velocities between the accelerometer, the tethered device and the video camera. The results obtained for freestyle were comparable to those obtained with GPS in outdoor pools. Those obtained for backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly were very encouraging. Our method is simple, reliable, advantageous compared to tethered devices, and could be easily used in the field by coaches.

Lumbosacral injuries in elite Paralympic athletes with limb deficiency: a retrospective analysis of patient records

BackgroundCompared to injury data in able-bodied athletes, relatively little literature exists for Paralympic athletes. Injury data underpins the design and evaluation of injury prevention strategies in elite sport. The aim...

The Social Significance and Issues of Media Coverage of Paralympic Athletes

The Social Significance and Issues of Media Coverage of Paralympic Athletes

Development of custom-made racing wheelchair for a paralympic athlete

Development of custom-made racing wheelchair for a paralympic athlete

PELO TEMPO E CONTRA O TEMPO: O PARADOXO DAS ATLETAS PARALÍMPICAS COM DOENÇAS DEGENERATIVAS

Este ensaio visa compreender como as atletas paralímpicas com doenças degenerativas Susana Schnarndorf, da natação, e Elizabeth Gomes, do atletismo, lidam com a dicotomia do tempo que o esporte lhes confere. Uma luta “contra” o relógio para conquistas de índices e a “favor” da extensão do tempo de vida. Paradoxalmente, traz falas da velocista belga Marieke Vervoort, que preferiu romper com o tempo de vida e das competições. A metodologia usada são as narrativas biográficas, que partem de um convite para que as atletas contem suas histórias de vida. Resultam das narrativas elementos de subjetividade, que lidam não apenas com o papel social dessas mulheres como atletas, mas como seres humanos, que sofrem com a condição da mortalidade e de uma finitude breve, marcada pela doença. A aproximação com personagens literários é uma forma de metaforizar a aspereza desse vislumbre tão tênue entre a finitude e a eternidade.

Disability, Sport, and Television: Media Visibility and Representation of Paralympic Games in News Programs

With a few exceptions, media visibility and representation of people with disabilities is scarce. It is biased and anchored in stigma, distorting their image and hindering their full social participation. Paralympic sport is one of the social fields where the challenge of an objective representation of disability becomes particularly important due to the ever-increasing amount of television attention to the Paralympic Games as a global sports event and some persisting stereotypes in media representation of athletes with disabilities. Through an exploratory and interpretive research method, aimed at assessing media visibility of disability from the perspective of content production and its dissemination, the paper reviews the evolution of media representation of the Paralympic Games and athletes with disabilities during Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, and PyeongChang 2018 global sports events in the daily news programs from the National Spanish Broadcaster, RTVE. The effective inclusion of people with disabilities in the public sphere and a progressive removal of stereotypes and stigma depends to a great extent on the visibility and objective representation of disability in media.

Aerobic fitness is a potential crucial factor in protecting paralympic athletes with locomotor impairments from atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk

PurposeTo test the hypothesis that aerobic fitness is inversely related to the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD) in athletes with locomotor impairments deriving from health conditions, such as spinal cord injury (SCI), lower limb amputation, cerebral palsy, poliomyelitis, and other health conditions different from the previous ones.MethodsA total of 68 male athletes who competed in either summer or winter Paralympic games were divided in two health conditions groups (35 with SCI, mean age 37.2 ± 8.0 years, and 33 with different health conditions, mean age 37.8 ± 9.9 years) and in four sport type groups (skill, power, intermittent—mixed metabolism—and endurance). They were evaluated through anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, laboratory blood tests, and graded cardiopulmonary maximal arm cranking exercise test, with oxygen uptake peak (VO2peak) measurement. Cardiovascular risk profile was assessed in each athlete.ResultsThe prevalence of ACVD-risk factors in the overall population was 20.6% for hypertension; 47% and 55.9% for high values of total and LDL cholesterol, respectively; 22.1% for reduce glucose tolerance; and 8.8% for obesity. No difference was found between athletes with and without SCI, while the prevalence of obesity was significantly higher in those practicing skill sports (22.7%, p = 0.035), which was the sport type group with Paralympic athletes with the lowest VO2peak (22.5 ± 5.70 ml kg−1 min−1). VO2peak was lower in athletes with SCI than those with different health conditions (28.6 ± 10.0 vs 33.6 ± 8.9 ml kg−1 min−1p = 0.03), and in those with 3–4 risk factors (19.09 ± 5.34 ml kg−1 min−1) than those with 2 risk factors (27.1 ± 5.50 ml kg−1 min−1), 1 risk factor (31.6 ± 8.55 ml kg−1 min−1), or none (36.4 ± 8.76 ml kg−1 min−1) (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe present study suggests that having higher VO2peak seems to offer greater protection against ACVD in individuals with a locomotor impairment. Prescribing physical exercise at an intensity similar to that of endurance and intermittent sports should become a fundamental tool to promote health among people with a locomotor impairment.

Avaliação de duas formas de execução, amarrado ou não no powerlifting paralímpico: um estudo piloto

This study aimed to analyze the Average Propulsive Speed (APS), Average Speed (AS), and Power (N) in two test conditions, tied or not tied versus beginner and trained. Sixteen male Paralympic powerlifting athletes participated in the research, with 28.60±7.60 years, 71.80±17.90 kg. Participants performed a 1 RM test to determine the maximum load. To collect the APS, AS, and N, the Speed 4Lift encoder was attached to the bar, and the percentages of loads of 40, 45, and 50% of 1RM were collected. The statistical analysis between the groups was made using a Two Way ANOVA, (condition-tied and not tied X training level - beginner and trained) with Post Hoc by Bonferroni. In the variables APS and AS, there was no difference between the groups, as well as between the conditions tied or not tied. The variable N had a difference between the athletes, in both conditions for 40% of 1 RM (p=0.024) in athletes trained in untied condition and athletes trained in tied condition (p=0.033). From the collected data, it is observed that athletes with 12 or more months of training have better performance on muscle power in both conditions than the untrained.

Case study of the narrative displays of the self of a young Paralympic athlete: signifying the place of the body and technology from the visualization of narrative folds graphs

Case study of the narrative displays of the self of a young Paralympic athlete: signifying the place of the body and technology from the visualization of narrative folds graphs

The Covid Pandemic, The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act and the Dawn of a New Age of U.S. Olympic Reform

In the fall of 2020, Congress enacted the first substantive changes in the Governance of the Olympic Sports system in over four decades. The new law, The Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act, was passed in the wake of sexual abuse scandals that rocked certain governing bodies. In amending the 1978 Amateur Sports Act, the new law grants Congress the power to decertify the United States Olympic bodies, mandates greater athlete representation in governance, increases funding to protect athletes through greater support of USA Safe Sport. Aside from the decertification power, the most significant provision of the new law is the establishment of a Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics to review the governance of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (“USOPC”) and make proposals for change. The Commission’s creation comes at a crucial time in U.S. Olympic governance. Due to the governance scandals, uncertain funding and the general national sports upheaval caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, this article advocates more significant changes to the Olympic structure that the commission should consider, such as direct or indirect government funding for the USOPC and the sport governing bodies in return for adherence to more stringent transparency and ethical rules. Ideas that the Commission could consider include mandatory disclosure of information such as sponsorship agreements and compensation and bonus limitations for those in key leadership positions, the appointment of an inspector-general and greater athlete involvement in the U.S. Olympic movement. The article also proposes more statutory changes such as a limited antitrust exemption and the end of special trademark protections for the USOPC.

Manajemen National Paralympic Committee (NPC) dalam pembinaan prestasi atlet penyandang disabilitas

The achievements made by persons with disabilities through sports are indeed quite interesting to study and observe, the purpose of this study is to analyze disability achievement management and supporting and inhibiting factors in the development of athletes with disabilities in the Kendal district NPC. The research design used is qualitative research, data collection techniques include: (1) observation, (2) interviews, (3) and documentation, with research subjects consisting of: (1) The Head of the Kendal Regency NPC, (2) Athlete Empowerment Section, (3) Sports Section, (4) Paralympic Athletes. The process of screening athletes in collaboration with sports teachers from special schools and teams from the NPC. Supervision is carried out by the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) from monitoring the condition of the athlete, the place where the athlete works and the athlete's family so that they understand that the athlete is performing. The conclusion in this study, NPC can increase organizational strengthening through coordination meetings, facilitate organization and implementation of guidance through grants from the Regional Government. Performance development for athletes with disabilities NPC conducts screening to special schools in order to find potential athletes, as well as to pay more attention to facilities and infrastructure to support performance development so that athletes with disabilities can achieve achievements.

Comparison between the 10- and the 30-s-long Wingate Anaerobic Test in summer Paralympic athletes with a lower limb impairment

BackgroundThe 30-s-long Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT_30s) has some limitations in high-level athletes. A shorter version might be helpful for both clinical applications and performance assessment. The comparison between the traditional WAnT_30s and a shorter version has never been carried out yet in Paralympic athletes.AimTo assess if a 10-s-long Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT_10s) could be used to accurately assess and predict the anaerobic components of physical fitness as an alternative to the traditional WAnT_30s in male Paralympic athletes.MethodsForty-four trained male Paralympic Athletes grouped by severity of locomotor impairment completed the WAnT_30s and the WAnT_10s with an arm cranking ergometer. Differences between mean and peak power achieved throughout both WAnTs were analysed using a mixed-design analysis of variance and predictivity was assessed by stepwise linear regression analysis.ResultsIn the whole sample, peak power values were similar (P > 0.005) in the two tests and the WAnT_10s mean power was significantly higher than that in the WAnT_30s (P < 0.005). Finally, the mean power measured during WAnT_30s showed high level of predictability from mean power measured during WAnT_10s and the Functional class (adjusted R2 = 0.906; P < 0.001).ConclusionThe WAnT_10s is accurate to assess peak power, is definitively appropriate to evaluate the alactic anaerobic metabolism and seems able to predict the mean power as traditionally evaluated through a WAnT_30s in male Paralympic Athletes. Thus, it can be used to assess the anaerobic components of physical fitness in this athletic population.

Гендерні особливості самореалізації паралімпійців

Мета. Порівняти емоційні стани спортсменів-па-ралімпійців чоловічої та жіночої статі. Визначитигендерні психологічні особливості спортивноїсамореалізації паралімпійців. Методи. Було використано, розроблений нами, опи-тувальник та шість психодіагностичних методик:Шкала самоефективності Р. Шварцера та М. Єруса-лема, Шкала психологічного благополуччя К. Ріфф(адаптація Т.Д. Шевеленкової і Т.П. Фесенко), Шкаласамодетермінації (Є.М. Осіна), Тест життєстійкостіС. Мадді (переклад і адаптація Д.О Леонтьєва, О.І. Рас-сказової), Опитувальник самоорганізації діяльності(ОСД) О.Ю. Мандрикової, Тест “Смисложиттєвих орі-єнтацій” (СЖО) Дж. Крамбо та Л. Махоліка (адаптаціяД. О. Леонтьєва). Результати: Встановлено, що длячoлoвіків-паралімпійців негативний вплив кoмплексучинників, пoв’язаних з наявністю інваліднoсті, є сут-тєвo істoтнішим, ніж для жінoк, і, безумoвнo, пoтребує більш пoглибленoгo аналізу та oсмислення, oскількинoрмативні відміннoсті між здoрoвими чoлoвікамита жінками є значнo менш вираженими. Щoдo загаль-них oсoбливoстей спoртивнoї самoреалізації паралім-пійців устанoвленo, щo для паралімпійців у цілoмувластива переважна задoвoленість власнoю спoртив-нoю кар’єрoю, дoстатньo швидка пoстанoвка нoвoїспoртивнoї мети та дoсить чітке уявлення свoгo спoр-тивнoгo майбутньoгo. Такoж прирoднo, щo значнаїх частина не вважає наявні спoртивні дoсягненняграничнo мoжливими, вбачаючи в сoбі пoтенціал дляпoдальшoгo спoртивнoгo удoскoналення. Це відно-ситься, як до чоловіків, так і до жінок. Висновки. Отри-мані результати можуть бути використані з метоюпідвищення ефективності та ставленню тренерівпаралімпійських збірних команд до чоловіків і жінокв тренувально-змагальному процесі паралімпійців,а також для сприяння їх самореалізації. Перспективиподальших досліджень полягають у аналізі та oсмис-ленні, чому для чoлoвіків-паралімпійців негативнийвплив кoмплексу чинників, пoв’язаних з наявністюінваліднoсті, є суттєвo істoтнішим, ніж для жінoк.

The role of resilience on motivation among Brazilian athletics and swimming parathletes

This cross-secctional study investigated the role of resilience on motivation among athletics and swimming parathletes. The subjects were 64 male (n=41) and female (n=23) parathletes from North and Northeast regions of Brazil. The parathletes were practitioners of athletics (69.5%) and swimming (30.5%), with mean age of 28.42±11.32 years. The instruments were the Sport Motivation Scale-II and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Data analysis was conducted thorugh Kolmogorov Smirnov, Spearman correlation and Path Analysis (p&lt;0.05). The results showed that resilience showed significant correlation (p&lt;0.05) with all controlled and autonomous regulations: external (r=0.29), introjected (r=0.40), identified (r=0.29), integrated (r=0.26) and intrinsic (r=0.42). Path Analysis revealed that that resilience showed a significant (p 0.05) and effect on intrinsic, introjected and external regulations, explaining 16%, 11% and 11% of the variance of the variables, respectively. It should be noted that resilience had a moderate and positive effect on intrinsic (β=0.40), introjected (β=0.33) and external (β=0.33) regulations. It was concluded that in the context of the paralympic athletics and swimming, resilience seems to be an intervening factor on both autonomous and controlled motivation.

The potential influence of Cortisol and Testosterone on psychobiological aspects in Paralympic athletes

Paralympic sport is based on performance and requires the planning of physical, technical and psychological training. Factors such as structure, duration and intensity of specific training and disability type might influence hormone levels of blood-free testosterone and cortisol. Few studies have examined the psychobiological aspects in elite athletes with disabilities and their associations with hormonal status. Although there are similarities between the training of elite athletes with and without disabilities, there are certain important variations that take the relationship between hormones and behaviour in Paralympic athletes into account. This article will provide information expanding the level of analysis of close and reciprocal variables involved in the influence of the endocrine system in the psychobiological domains of Paralympic athletes

Impactos psicossociais e econômicos em atletas e treinadores olímpicos/paraolímpicos de modalidades aquáticas devido ao COVID-19: percepções, discursos e perspectivas

Este artigo busca apresentar a perspectiva de 15 protagonistas do movimento olímpico e paraolímpico brasileiro sobre a forma como estão enfrentando o “Isolamento Social” devido ao COVID-19, como o adiamento de todas as competições esportivas no ano de 2020, sendo a mais importante delas os Jogos Olímpicos e Paraolímpicos de Tóquio 2020. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar o ponto de vista dos 15 atletas e treinadores olímpicos e paraolímpicos das modalidades aquáticas que treinavam em São Paulo sobre diversos fatores do isolamento social, como treinamento, ansiedade, perspectivas. Está é uma pesquisa qualitativa, com coleta de dados virtuais e entrevistas semiestruturadas. Discussões: Adiamento dos Jogos; Bolsa Atleta; Treinamento. Considerações: Importância do Bolsa Atleta neste momento de pandemia por conta da redução de salário e suspensão de contratos com patrocinadores; Diferença de Discurso entre o sujeito coletivo atleta e treinador sobre os impactos do COVID no treinamento; Posicionamento Político contra ações do governo federal, principalmente o Presidente da República Jair Bolsonaro.

Physiologic and Clinical Features of the Paralympic Athlete’s Heart

Paralympic medicine is a newly adopted term to describe the varied health care issues associated with athletes in the Paralympics. Scarce scientific data, however, are currently available describing the cardiac remodeling in Paralympic athletes. To investigate the physiological and clinical characteristics of the Paralympic athlete's heart and derive the normative values. This is a single-center study on a relatively large cohort of Paralympic athletes, conducted at the Italian Institute of Sport Medicine and Science. Paralympic athletes free of cardiac or systemic pathologic conditions other than their cause of disability were selected for participation in the Paralympic Games from January 2000 to June 2014. Athletes were arbitrarily classified for disability in 2 groups: those with spinal cord injuries (SCI) and those with non-SCI (NSCI). Data analysis occurred from March 2019 to June 2020. The primary outcome was the difference in cardiac remodeling in Paralympic athletes according to disability type and sports discipline type. Athletes underwent cardiac evaluation, including 12-lead and exercise electrocardiograms, echocardiography, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Among 252 consecutive Paralympic athletes (median [interquartile range (IQR)] age, 34 [29-41] years; 188 men [74.6%]), 110 had SCI and 142 had NSCI. Those with SCI showed a higher prevalence of abnormal electrocardiogram findings than those with NSCI (13 of 110 [11.8%] vs 6 of 142 [4.2%]; P = .003), smaller left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (median [IQR], 48 [46-52] vs 51 [48-54] mm; P = .001) and left ventricular mass index (median [IQR], 80.6 [69-94] vs 91.3 [80-108] g/m2; P = .001), and lower peak oxygen uptake (VO2) (median [IQR], 27.1 [2-34] vs 38.5 [30-47] mL/min/kg; P = .001) in comparison with those with NSCI. Regarding sport discipline, endurance athletes had a larger left ventricular cavity (median [IQR], 52 [47-54] vs 49 [47-53] mm; P = .006) and higher peak VO2 (median [IQR], 46 [39-55] vs 30 [25-35] mL/min/kg; P = .001) than athletes in nonendurance sports. Cardiac remodeling in Paralympic athletes differed by disability and sport discipline. Having NSCI lesions and engaging in endurance sports were associated with the largest left ventricular cavity and left ventricular mass and highest VO2 peak. Having SCI lesions and engaging in nonendurance disciplines, on the contrary, were associated with the smallest left ventricular cavity and mass and lowest VO2 peak.

Does the Grip Width Affect the Bench Press Performance of Paralympic Powerlifters?

To verify the effects of using different grip widths in bench press performance in Paralympic powerlifting athletes. Twelve experienced Paralympic powerlifting male athletes (25.40 [3.30]y, 70.30 [12.15]kg) participated in the study. Maximal dynamic strength and maximal isometric strength (MIS) were determined. Then, mean propulsive velocity (MPV) using 25%, 50%, and 100% of maximal dynamic strength load and time to achieve 30%, 50%, and 100% of MIS were assessed with 4 different grip widths, specifically the biacromial distance (BAD: 42.83 [12.84]cm), 1.3 BAD (55.68 [16.70]cm), 1.5 BAD (63.20 [18.96]cm), and 81cm. Electromyographic analysis was performed during MIS assessment in the pectoralis major sternal portion, anterior deltoid, triceps brachii long head, and pectoralis major clavicular portion. Large differences were found between MPV performed with different grip widths using 25% of maximal dynamic strength load (P = .02, ηp2=.26). The 1.5 BAD grip tended to show greater force generation and MPV. Moreover, the time needed to achieve 30%, 50%, and 100% of MIS differed between grip widths (P = .03, ηp2=.24), with the lowest values obtained in the 1.5 BAD. Despite the nonstatistical differences that were found, grip widths caused moderate effects on muscle myoelectric activation, showing greater values for pectoralis major clavicular portion and pectoralis major sternal portion, for the 1.3 BAD and 1.5 BAD, respectively. The 1.5 BAD the grip width tended to show greater MPV values and faster contractile responses. These results highlighted the importance of choosing the specific grip width for improvement of performance in Paralympic powerlifting athletes, by increasing velocity of movement and force production in a shorter time, with greater activation of primary muscles.

Measures of impairment applicable to the classification of Paralympic athletes competing in wheelchair sports: A systematic review of validity, reliability and associations with performance

ABSTRACT A fundamental aspect of classification systems in Paralympic sport is having valid and reliable measures of impairment. However, minimal consensus exists for assessing impaired strength, coordination and range of motion. This review aimed to systematically identify measures of upper body strength, coordination and range of motion impairments that meet the requirements for use in evidence-based classification systems in wheelchair sports. Three electronic databases were searched from 2003 until 31 August 2019 for studies that assessed upper body function of participants and used a measurement tool that assessed strength, coordination or range of motion. The body of evidence for each identified measure was appraised using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. Twenty-three studies were included: ten measured strength and coordination, and six measured range of motion. There was “moderate” confidence in using isometric strength for assessing strength impairment. Tapping tasks for the assessment of coordination impairment received a “low” confidence rating. All other identified measures of coordination and range of motion impairment received a “very low” confidence rating. Several potential measures were identified for assessing upper body strength, coordination and range of motion impairments. Further research is warranted to investigate their use for classification in Paralympic wheelchair sports.

Personalized Tests in Paralympic Athletes: Aerobic and Anaerobic Performance Profile of Elite Wheelchair Rugby Players.

In Paralympic sports, the goal of functional classifications is to minimize the impact of impairment on the outcome of the competition. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate aerobic and anaerobic personalized tests in Paralympic athletes and to correlate them with the classification of the international wheelchair rugby federation (IWRF). Sixteen elite players of the Italian wheelchair rugby team volunteered for the study. Aerobic (incremental test to exhaustion) and anaerobic (Wingate 30s all-out test, 5 and 10-meter sprint test, shuttle test, isometric test) sport-performance measurements were correlated singularly or grouped (Z scores) with the classification point. Moreover, a multivariate permutation-based ranking analysis investigated possible differences in the overall level of performance among the adjacent classified groups of players, considering the scores of each test. A statistically significant correlation between the performance parameters and the IWRF functional classification considering both aerobic and anaerobic personalized tests was detected (0.58 ≤ r ≤ 0.88; 0.0260 ≤ p ≤ 0.0001). The multivariate permutation-based ranking analysis showed differences only for the low-pointers versus mid-pointers (p = 0.0195) and high-pointers (p = 0.0075). Although single performance parameters correlated with athletes’ classification point, results of the multivariate permutation-based ranking analysis seem to suggest considering only the most significant anaerobic and sport-specific performance parameters among athletes. These should be combined with the physical assessment and the qualitative observation, which are already part of the classification process to improve its effectiveness.