Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Wheelchair athletes'

The increased participation in elite wheelchair sport has provided the need to investigate the physiological requirements of wheelchair sporting competition and daily wheelchair propulsion. However, from a nutritional perspective, guidelines that have been established from the able-bodied population tend to be used by the practitioners working in disability sport and it is not known whether this information is directly transferable to the wheelchair athlete. Wheelchair sport is complex and athletes differ with respect to their sports classification based on factors relating to disability and functional capacity. Therefore, if nutritional guidance is required to optimise performance then information regarding energy expenditure (EE) in the wheelchair sports population becomes important for specific feedback. The aim of this thesis was to investigate EE in wheelchair athletes. The results from Chapter 3 found resting energy expenditure (REE) in tetraplegic athletes to be lower than that calculated using predictive equations derived from an ablebodied cohort. However, paraplegic athletes showed comparable values to those which were predicted, suggesting these equations may be of use in paraplegic athletes. Chapter 4 extended this work and found similarities in the REE of the two aforementioned cohorts. This could have been due to the similarities that were found in their total-body fat free mass (FFM). The results from Chapter 5 showed EE reduced after both a short 36 minute exposure of wheelchair propulsion and after 3 weeks of wheelchair propulsion practice in novice wheelchair users. Temporal parameters improved after the practice period, suggesting there is an association between EE and propulsion technique. Chapter 6 extended these findings with results confirming that experienced wheelchair users expended significantly less energy during wheelchair propulsion than novice individuals who had up to 3 weeks practice. It is clear that EE of daily wheelchair ambulation should not be a generic value and different levels of experience must be considered so that the nutritional needs can be tailored accordingly. Chapters 7 and 8 examined the physiological demands of elite competitive wheelchair basketball players in relation to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) classification categories and identified differences in the physiological demands and physiological fitness of wheelchair basketball and tennis players. These results found that IWBF Class 3 - 4.5 (high point) players expended more energy per hour during competition than those with a lower classification (IWBF Class 1 - 2.5). However, when actual playing time was considered the low classification group showed a similar EE to the higher classification group. Furthermore, wheelchair basketball players had a higher EE per hour than wheelchair tennis players during elite competition. However, the wheelchair tennis players spent a significantly longer duration on court resulting in similar EE during a typical competition within each sport. This suggests nutritional advice should be tailored both to the duration of competitive play (where EE may be similar between sports (basketball vs. tennis)); and to training (where athletes with a higher functional capacity may have higher EE). This thesis revealed several important physiological considerations to appreciate when investigating the EE of wheelchair sportsmen and women. Findings would suggest that type of disability, wheelchair propulsion experience and sport classification are all important considerations for the accurate assessment of EE in this cohort of athletes.

Apart from motor and sensory function loss, an injury to the spinal cord can cause sympathetic dysfunction, which has been shown to affect immune responses. In this thesis, data from five experimental studies have been collected to compare physiological and psychophysiological exercise responses between wheelchair athlete subgroups with different disabilities (tetraplegic, paraplegic, and non-spinal cord-injured). In two preparatory studies, physiological exercise responses to exhaustive (Chapter 4) and submaximal exercise (Chapter 5) were investigated in all three disability subgroups. Whilst reliability measures for peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) were in a range observed previously in able-bodied athletes, the variation in tetraplegic athletes was larger when expressed relative to their VO2peak, questioning the use of this variable to track small changes in aerobic capacity in athletic populations. Submaximal physiological and psychophysiological exercise responses were found to be similar between disability subgroups when expressed as a percentage of VO2peak, justifying the protocol used in the laboratory study on mucosal immune function, which was based on the same percentages of VO2peak for all disability subgroups. The most extensive study of this thesis, detailed in Chapter 6, showed that single laboratory-controlled 60-min exercise sessions increase both salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), a marker of mucosal immunity, and α-amylase, a marker of sympathetic activation in all three disability subgroups. However, the impaired sympathetic nervous system in tetraplegic athletes seemed to influence the fine-tuning of their sIgA response when compared with paraplegic and non-spinal cord-injured athletes, resulting in a larger exercise-induced increase of sIgA secretion rate when compared to paraplegic and non-spinal cord-injured athletes. Based on these results, the study detailed in Chapter 7 investigated sIgA responses in tetraplegic athletes during wheelchair rugby court training. Despite their disability, these athletes showed responses thought to be governed by the sympathetic nervous system, such as reductions of saliva flow rate as a result of strenuous exercise. Similarly, the responses observed in Chapter 8 imply a comparable trend of chronic sIgA exercise responses in tetraplegic athletes as found in the able-bodied population, namely a decrease in sIgA secretion rate during periods of heavy training. These are the first studies in wheelchair athlete populations to investigate mucosal immune responses. Interestingly, despite the disruption of their sympathetic nervous system, some responses in tetraplegic athletes are comparable with findings in able-bodied populations. It is possible that due to their highly trained nature, these tetraplegic individuals are able to compensate for their loss of central sympathetic innervation. This may be by way of adapted spinal reflex or parasympathetic nervous system activity, or increased sensitivity of receptors involved in autonomic pathways. Therefore, sympathetic nervous function in tetraplegic athletes may be qualitatively altered, but in parts still be functional.

Six elite wheelchair shooters undertook a simulated competition of 2 hr duration under three different conditions: 1. 24-26 °C and 40% humidity (C), 2. 36 °C and 60% humidity (H), and 3. the H condition whilst using simple head, neck and torso cooling devices (HC). The trials were undertaken at the same time on consecutive days in a counter-balanced, randomised order. Two shooters were removed from the H trial at t=75 and t=105 min, respectively, due to tympanic temperature elevations above 39 °C, but were able to complete the full 2 hr of competition during the C and HC conditions. Heart rates were significantly elevated for the group during the H condition compared to C and HC (106 ± ll, 80 ± 10, 90 ± 7 beats.min-' respectively at t=90 min, p<0.05) as were perceptions of thermal discomfort (6.4 ± 0.7, 3.5 ± 0.4, 4.8 ± 1.0 respectively at t=90 min, p<0.05). These responses were at least partially alleviated by the use of the simple, yet practical, cooling devices. Practically, this may improve performance in shooting competitions as it allows more time to fire a shot between heart beats, and enables shooters to concentrate more easily on the task required of them. Responses to heat exposure were more pronounced in athletes with a higher level of disability (CS versus T4 versus cerebral palsy), and those who wore heavy leather shooting jackets (rifle versus pistol shooters). Although further research is recommended, it would appear that the rules governing shooting attire and prolonging exposure to heat should be reconsidered for events in which wheelchair athletes compete.

The problem of this study was to determine if a difference in core body temperature and degree of dehydration exists between able-bodied athletes and wheelchair athletes in response to prolonged aerobic exercise while under thermal stress. Eight subjects, four able-bodied and four wheelchair athletes, volunteered to take part in the study. All subjects performed a 60-minute bout of upper body exercise while subjected to a temperature of 33- 34·c. Core body temperature, heart rate and degree of dehydration were all measured during and after testing, providing three dependent variables: the time that it took to achieve a maximum core body temperature (Time to Max Temp.), the difference between pre-weight and post-weight after the 60 minute bout of exercise (Weight Diff.) and the maximum temperature achieved during the 60 minute bout of exercise (Temp. Diff.). A multivariate factorial design (MANOVA) was used to examine group differences across all dependent variables simultaneously. No significant differences were observed between groups (p>.05). The results of this study may indicate that wheelchair athletes are no more susceptible to elevated core body temperatures or dehydration during aerobic exercise than able-bodled athletes. If this is the case, wheelchair athletes may need only to take the same precautions during aerobic exercise while under thermal stress as their able-bodied counterparts.

Following on from Rio de Janeiro 2016, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games will present a unique challenge for athletes, needing to prepare and adapt to the potential challenging environmental conditions of 20-27°C and ~73% relative humidity. It is well known that during exercise in hot and/or humid climates, able-bodied athletes experience an increase in thermal strain and a reduction in performance compared to cooler/drier conditions. Yet these conditions prove even more problematic for athletes, who as a consequence of their impairment have a dysfunctional thermoregulatory system, such as athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI). To date, the thermoregulatory responses of athletes with an SCI have been an under-studied area of research. To gain a greater understanding of how heat balance is altered in individuals with an SCI and the thermoregulatory consequences as a result, studies need to first be conducted at rest, removing the additional metabolic heat production from exercise. Although a large majority of athletes with an SCI compete indoors in wheelchair court sports (e.g. wheelchair basketball and rugby), exercising even in these climate-controlled environments has been shown to place these athletes under considerable thermal strain. In light of this, it is remarkable that existing research on the thermoregulatory responses of athletes with an SCI during exercise is scarce, especially studies encompassing real-world sporting environments. Athletes with high level lesions (tetraplegia, TP) are a particularly under-studied population group shown to have a greater thermoregulatory impairment than individuals with low level lesions (paraplegia, PA) during continuous exercise. Thus the aim of this thesis was to investigate the thermoregulatory responses of athletes with an SCI at rest and during real-world sporting scenarios, with specific focus on athletes with TP. Study 1 aimed to determine how evaporative heat loss is altered, as a result of an SCI, compared to the able-bodied (AB), and the effect lesion level has on this response. The results provide evidence that in individuals with TP, even at rest, evaporative heat loss is not large enough to balance the heat load, when evaporation is the primary source of heat dissipation. Even though in individuals with PA Tgi increased by a smaller magnitude and they possessed a greater sweating capacity than individuals with TP, at ambient temperatures above Tsk latent heat loss is insufficient to attain heat balance, compared to the AB. To investigate the thermoregulatory responses of athletes with an SCI during real-world sporting scenarios Study 2 examined athletes with TP compared to athletes with PA during 60 min of intermittent sprint wheelchair exercise on a wheelchair ergometer. The study was conducted in conditions representative of an indoor playing environment for wheelchair rugby and basketball (~21°C, 40% relative humidity). Results demonstrated that, despite similar external work, athletes with TP were under greater thermal strain than athletes with PA. Study 3 s novel approach investigated both physiological responses and activity profiles of wheelchair rugby players during competitive match play. Despite players with TP covering 17% less distance and pushing on average 10% slower, they were under a greater amount of thermal strain than players with non-spinal related physical impairments (NON-SCI). Furthermore, this study demonstrated that players with TP that had a larger body mass, larger lean mass, covered a greater relative distance and/or were a higher point player had a greater end Tgi. These data provide an insight for coaches and support staff regarding which players may need greater attention in regards to cooling strategies or breaks in play. The effectiveness of cooling practices currently employed by athletes with TP has not been previously investigated. Study 4 determined the effectiveness of pre-cooling, using an ice vest alone and in combination with water sprays between quarters, at attenuating thermal strain in athletes with TP. Using the activity profile data from Study 3, an intermittent sprint protocol, conducted on a wheelchair ergometer, was used to represent a wheelchair rugby match. The combination of cooling methods lowered Tgi and Tsk to a greater extent than pre-cooling only, despite neither cooling condition having a positive or negative effect on performance. Unexpectedly, the pre-cooling only condition lowered Tgi, compared to no cooling, throughout the subsequent exercise protocol, even though the reduction in Tsk was not long lasting. This thesis provides comprehensive evidence that athletes with TP experience heightened thermal strain during both rest and real-world sporting scenarios compared to the AB, athletes with PA, and within the sport of wheelchair rugby. Athletes with TP should employ practices, such as appropriate cooling methods or alter playing tactics to reduce thermal strain and the likelihood of attaining a heat related injury.

The purpose of this study was to explore wheelchair rugby coaches lived experiences in the development of their athletes who had acquired a spinal cord injury (SCI). Four elite wheelchair rugby coaches in Canada were interviewed using a semi-structured open-ended interview format. Smith and Osborn's (2008) Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA) was used to inductively analyze and interpret the data. Results revealed three higher-order categories: (a) Coach Attributes and Development, highlighted the evolution of the coaches and their methods of knowledge acquisition in the sport of wheelchair rugby; (b) Coaching the Sport, described the sporting environment of wheelchair rugby, including the participants' coaching roles and responsibilities; and (c) Coaching the Individual, described the participants' philosophies on developing their players as both athletes on the court and as individuals in their daily lives. Results provided evidence to support the importance of informal knowledge acquisition as central in the development of these coaches. Findings were similar to those highlighted in previous disability sport literature, stressing the importance of coaching an „athlete' as opposed to a „person with a disability.' Furthermore, coaches were thoroughly invested in the holistic growth and development of their athletes and empowered their players to maximize their potential both on the court and in their daily lives. From a practical perspective, the current findings can be used to enhance the quality and standard of formal disability sport coach education and provide knowledge on best coaching practices specific to the sport of wheelchair rugby.
Le but de cette étude était d'explorer des expériences vécues par les entraîneurs de rugby en fauteuil roulant dans le développement de leurs athlètes ayant une lésion de la moelle épinière. Quatre entraîneurs d'élite de rugby en fauteuil roulant au Canada ont été interviewés en utilisant un format d'entrevue semi-structurée à entretien ouvert. L'approche interprétative phénoménologique de Smith et Osborn (2008) a été utilisée pour analyser et interpréter les données par induction. Les résultats ont révélé trois catégories d'ordre supérieur: (a) Attributs et développement des entraîneurs, a souligné l'évolution des entraîneurs et de leurs méthodes d'acquisition des connaissances dans le sport du rugby en fauteuil roulant; (b) Entraînement du sport, a décrit l'environnement sportif de rugby en fauteuil roulant, y compris les rôles d'encadrement des participants et de leurs responsabilités, et (c) Entraînement de l'individu, a décrit la philosophie des participants sur le développement de leurs joueurs, comme athlètes sur le terrain et comme individus dans leur vie quotidienne. Les résultats ont fourni des preuves de l'importance de l'acquisition de connaissances informelles dans le développement de ces entraîneurs. Les résultats ont été similaires à ceux déjà mis en évidence dans les recherches précédentes, soulignant l'importance d'entraîner un «athlète», par opposition à une «personne handicapée». En outre, les entraîneurs se sont investis dans la croissance globale et le développement de leurs athlètes et ont responsabilisé les joueurs afin qu'ils maximisent leur potentiel, tant sur le terrain que dans leur vie quotidienne. D'un point de vue pratique, les résultats actuels peuvent être utilisés afin d'améliorer la qualité et le niveau de l'éducation des entraîneurs de personnes handicapées et fournir les connaissances sur de meilleures pratiques de coaching spécifiques au sport du rugby en fauteuil roulant.

Orientador: Edison Duarte
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Física
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Resumo: Introdução: A prática de atividade física regular e a prática esportiva são consideradas algumas das atividades importantes no processo de reabilitação de pessoas com deficiência física. O Rugby em Cadeira de Rodas (RCR), modalidade desenvolvida para pessoas com deficiência física no mínimo de 3 membros, desde sua criação passou por constante evolução, tendo seu sistema de classificação funcional, regras e métodos de treinamento. Como modalidade coletiva o RCR tem suas particularidades que devem ser consideradas, dentre elas o desempenho do metabolismo anaeróbio dos atletas, que é um dos determinantes para o sucesso nesse tipo de modalidade. No entanto, não foi encontrado na literatura internacional ou nacional consultada, valores de referência. Logo o objetivo deste trabalho é estabelecer uma referência sobre o perfil de desempenho anaeróbio de atletas de RCR, através da avaliação do Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Metodologia: Foram coletados os dados de Potência pico, média e % de Fadiga do Wingate Anaerobic Test de 10 atletas com lesão na medula espinhal, com cargas relativas a cada deficiência envolvida. Resultados: Foram encontrados para atletas da classe 0.5 valores de Ppico de 44,12 - 72,40 Watts (W), Pmédia de 27,16 - 54,78 W e %F de 46,88 - 77,29%. Para atletas 2.0 a Ppico encontrada foi de 208,22 - 248,11W, a Pmédia de 97,63 - 120,81W e o %F de 69,48 - 77,29%. Para os atletas 2.5 a Ppico de 214,93 - 272,70 W, a Pmédia de 156,49 - 170,54 W e o %F de 52,63 - 58,41%. O único atleta 3.0 avaliado apresentou Ppico de 327,83 W, Pmédia de 174,82 e %F de 69,08%. Conclusões: Os atletas avaliados têm níveis de potência pico e média próximos dos seus pares de classificação funcional, como constatado na literatura consultada, mas apresentaram valores maiores no %F, o que indica uma necessidade de treinamento da capacidade anaeróbia de trabalho
Abstract: Introduction: The regular physical activity and sports pratice are considered important in the rehabilitation process for disabled people. The Wheelchair Rugby (WR) is a sport developed for people with physical disability in at least 3 limbs, has since its creation passed for development in its classification rules, game rules and training methods. As a team sport, the WR has it is peculiarities that should be considered, as the anaerobic performance, a determinant factor for the sport. However, it's not found in the literature a standard profile about the anaerobic performance of WR athletes for the training process. Therefore the aim of this study was to establish a reference about the anaerobic performance profile of WR athletes through the Wingate Anaerobic Test. Methods: 10 athletes with spinal cord injury were evaluated with the WAnT, with relative loads for each subject and each neurological level, according the literature, with the loan relative of each deficiency involved. Results: Were found to 0.5 athletes PP values from 44.12 to 72.40 W, MP from 27.16 to 54.78 W and %F 46.88 to 77.29%. For the 2.0 athletes was found PP from 208.22 to 248.11W, MP from 97.63 to 120.81W and %F from 69.48 to 77.29%. For the 2.5 athletes PP from 214.93 to 272.70 W, MP from 156.49 to 170.54 W and %F from 52.63 to 58.41%. The only 3.0 athlete evaluated showed PP of W 327.83, MP of 174.82 and %F of 69.08%. Conclusions: The evaluated athletes have peak power and mean power levels similar to their functional classification pairs, but they presented higher values in the %F, so the necessity of training in the anaerobic capacity is indicated
Mestrado
Atividade Fisica Adaptada
Mestre em Educação Física

Orientador: José Irineu Gorla
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Física
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Resumo: A avaliação da Potência Aeróbia em atletas com tetraplegia, como indicador de limite máximo de tolerância ao exercício aeróbio, é uma importante área de interesse no campo da performance paradesportiva. O presente estudo teve como objetivo comparar as medições direta e indireta do Consumo Pico de Oxigênio (VO2pico) no teste de campo contínuo e incremental Octagon Multi-Stage Test (OMFT) bem como, correlacionar os valores obtidos no teste contínuo e incremental no ciclo-ergometro de braço (EB). Participaram desse estudo 8 atletas tetraplégicos praticantes de Rugby em cadeira de rodas. Os atletas inicialmente realizaram a avaliação antropométrica para o cálculo do índice de massa corporal (IMC) e percentual de gordura (%G) em seguida foram submetidos ao teste de campo incremental (OMFT) com a utilização do analisador de gás portátil K4b2 Cosmed para mensuração direta do VO2pico. Após 72 horas os mesmos atletas realizaram o teste contínuo e incremental no EB para obtenção dos valores de VO2pico. Pré e pós-testes foram mensurados os valores de Frequência Cardíaca (FC), Concentração de Lactato ([Lac]), Consumo de Oxigênio (VO2) e percepção Subjetiva de Esforço (PSE). Além disso, no teste de campo (OMFT) foram coletados os dados de distância total percorrida, estágio final e número de voltas realizadas variáveis para mensuração indireta do VO2pico. Para os valores de VO2pico, observou-se que no EB os valores de média do grupo foi de 17,8±6 ml/kg/min, enquanto que para o teste OMFT foram de 21,9±5,2ml/kg/min pela mensuração direta e 24,8±3,3ml/kg/min para a mensuração através da equação de predição pré-estabelecida, a FCmax foi de 129,1±24bpm no EB e de 127,8±26bpm no OMFT. Já a PSE foi de 8,2±1,03 no EB e de 6,5±2,2 no OMFT. Através do calculo de correlação entre as mensurações de VO2pico, observou-se alta correlação (r=0.86) entre as mensuração do OMFT direta e indireta com nível de significância de p<0.05 e através do teste de Bland-Altman foi observada a concordância entre os métodos com LIC95% variando de -2,8 a 8,5. O teste OMFT apresenta validade para mensuração da Potência Aeróbia em atletas com tetraplegia, porém, observa-se a necessidade de reajustes no protocolo para que os resultados encontrados sejam de fato mais próximos à realidade dos atletas com tetraplegia, possibilitando maior controle dos resultados obtidos e a prescrição da intensidade de exercícios, evitando assim, lesões devido à sobrecarga do treinamento
Abstract: Evaluation of Aerobic Power in Spinal Cord Injury athletes as an indicator of maximum aerobic exercise tolerance is an important area of interest of sports performance. The present study aimed to compare the direct and indirect measurements of peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) in field testing continuous and incremental Octagon Multi-Stage Test (OMFT) and to correlate the values obtained in the test continuous incremental in cycle-arm ergometer (EA). Eight athletes of the Wheelchair Rugby participated in this study. These athletes initially underwent anthropometric measurements for calculating the Body Mass Index (BMI) and percent body fat (%BF). After were submitted to field test (OMFT) with the use of portable gas analyzer K4b2 Cosmed for measurement direct of the VO2peak. After 72 hours the same athletes performed the test continuous incremental in EA to obtain the values of VO2peak. Pre and post-test values have been measured heart rate (HR), lactate concentration ([Lac]), oxygen consumption (VO2) and perceived exertion (PE). Moreover, the field test (OMFT) data were collected from total distance traveled, stage, and number of turns. Variables to measurement indirect of VO2 peak. For the VO2peak values, it was observed that the values of the EA group mean was 17.8 ± 6ml/kg/min, whereas for the test OMFT were 21.9 ± 5.2 ml/kg/min by direct measurement and 24.8 ± 3.3 ml/kg/min for measurement prediction equation by pre-established, HRmax was 129.1 ± 24bpm in EA and 127.8 ± 26bpm in OMFT. Already the PSE was 8.2±1.03 in EA and 6.5±2.2 in OMFT. By calculating the correlation between the measurements of VO2peak, there was a high correlation (r = 0.86) between the measurement of direct and indirect OMFT with a significance level of p <0.05 and by Bland-Altman concordance was observed between methods with varying LIC95% from -2.8 to 8.5. The OMFT shows validity for measuring Aerobic Power in athletes with tetraplegia; however, there is a need for adjustments in the protocol so that the results are actually closer to the reality of athletes with tetraplegia, enabling greater control of the results and prescription of exercise intensity, thus avoiding injury due to overload training
Mestrado
Atividade Fisica Adaptada
Mestre em Educação Física

Introduction: Before 2015 the hand classification in wheelchair rugby consisted of non-sport specific tests. The hand classification was not in accordance with the classification code introduced by the International Paralympic Committee in 2003. In 2015, the newly revised wheelchair rugby classification manual was released, containing the revised wheelchair rugby hand classification. Hand tests that were not functional sport-specific tests were removed from the bench test in wheelchair rugby classification. Lumbrical, interossei and thumb opposition manual muscle testing were added to the bench test in wheelchair rugby classification. On both national and international levels of classification, classifiers verbalised their uncertainty to their fellow panel members regarding their hand placement on the athlete’s hand and interpretation of the manual muscle testing of the hand that was observed and tested. This justified reliability testing of the new hand classification. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the intra and inter-rater reliability of the manual muscle testing in the new hand classification of wheelchair rugby. Study design: This study followed a quantitative non-experimental, cross-sectional design. Method: The raters who took part in the study were active international wheelchair rugby classifiers from all over the world. The raters received an electronic questionnaire consisting of biographic information and three videos repeated two times. Each video showed an athlete’s hand being classified by a classifier. The raters had to give a manual muscle test grade for each subject (muscle) tested in each video by using tick boxes. The manual muscle test grades that could be given were: 0-1, 2, 3 and 4-5. The first three raters in each international wheelchair rugby classification level who completed the questionnaire were used for the data analysis. Data Analysis: The statistician used the two way model for the ICC in which each subject was rated by the same raters to determine the absolute agreement for each objective. The Medcalc program was used. To indicate the strength of agreement the ranges provided by Landis and Koch (1977) were used: 0.0 – 0.2 slight, 0.21 – 0.4 fair, 0.41 – 0.6 moderate, 0.61 – 0.8 substantial and 0.81 – 1.00 almost perfect. Conclusion: Raters one, two, five, seven, eight and nine’s intraclass correlation coefficient values fell between 0.81-1.00 which is descriptive of almost perfect levels of intra-rater reliability. Raters three, four and six’s intraclass correlation coefficient values fell between 0.61-0.80 which is descriptive of substantial levels of intra-rater reliability. However, none of the raters scored 100% when accuracy was determined. All three levels had intraclass correlation coefficient values which is descriptive of almost perfect levels of intra-rater reliability within each level. Level 2, 3 and 4 classifiers had intraclass correlation coefficient values between 0.81- 1.00 which is descriptive of almost perfect levels of inter-rater reliability when the manual muscle testing grades for the first and repeated videos were compared. Across all nine raters there was a high intraclass correlation coefficient value which was descriptive of almost perfect inter-rater reliability. The accuracy in each level and across all nine raters was low. Finger extensors, thumb abductor and thumb flexor showed intraclass correlation coefficient values between 0.41-0.6 which is descriptive of moderate levels of intrarater reliability. The only subjects (muscles) that were graded accurately when compared to a memorandum were subjects with a manual muscle test grade 0-1 and 4-5. Most of the accurate manual muscle test grades were for athlete two in the video footage. Athlete two was classified as having a 2.0 hand.
Dissertation (MOccThe)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
Occupational Therapy
MOccThe
Unrestricted

Orientador: José Irineu Gorla
Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Física
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Resumo: Em decorrência da lesão da medula espinhal nível cervical, os indivíduos apresentam bradicardia alterando o balanço autonômico em relação ao sistema cardiovascular, comprometendo a modulação da pressão arterial, resistência periférica, frequência e débito cardíaco. Sendo assim, o presente estudo teve por objetivo mensurar a variabilidade de frequência cardíaca em indivíduos com lesão da medula espinhal. O grupo avaliado foi composto por indivíduos do sexo masculino, tetraplégicos completos e incompletos com idades entre 26 e 39 anos e tempo médio de lesão de 10,38±8,34 anos e com carga horária de treino igual ou superior a 20 horas/semanais. A avaliação da variabilidade da frequência cardíaca ocorreu nos momentos pré e pós a execução de um exercício submáximo incremental em ciclo ergômetro de braços. Para o registro da Variabilidade de Frequência Cardíaca optou-se pela posição sentada, durante um período de 20 minutos em cadeira de passeio para os dois momentos. Os intervalos R-R foram registrados e transferidos para um notebook utilizando o software Polar Pro Trainer® e analisados através do software Kubios® para a análise das variáveis no domínio do tempo e da frequência. Observando valores referentes às variáveis, RR e RMSSD, no domínio da frequência, para os grupos, percebe-se um aumento na situação pós-exercício em relação ao repouso. Para as variáveis relacionadas ao domínio do tempo, LFun, HFun e Razão LFun/HFun, é observado em ambos grupos uma redução para os valores relacionados ao LFun, enquanto para a Razão LFun/HFun, observou-se reduzida apenas para o grupo completo e refletido no grupo geral. Porém, o fato de nosso estudo ser um dos pioneiros na área, permitirá a utilização dos valores descritos como referência para investigações futuras. Nossos achados poderão auxiliar profissionais que atuam na reabilitação de pessoas com lesão cervical da medula espinhal através do Rugby em Cadeira de Rodas e preparadores físicos objetivando a otimização do desempenho físico, visto que a modalidade atua predominantemente no sistema cardiorrespiratório
Abstract: As a result of spinal cord injury in cervical level, individuals have bradycardia altering autonomic balance in relation to the cardiovascular system, affecting the modulation of blood pressure, peripheral resistance and cardiac output frequency. Therefore, this study aimed to measure the heart rate variability in individuals with spinal cord injury. The studied group consisted of male, complete and incomplete quadriplegic aged between 26 and 39 years and mean duration of injury of 10.38 ± 8.34 years and hours of training equal to or greater than 20 hours / week. The assessment of heart rate variability occurred in the moments before and after the implementation of an incremental submaximal exercise on cycle ergometer in arms. For the record the heart rate variability was chosen by the sitting position for a period of 20 minutes in the stroller for two moments. The RR intervals were recorded and transferred to a notebook using Polar Pro Trainer ® software and analyzed through Kubios ® software for the analysis of the variables in the time domain and frequency. Noting values for the variables, RR and RMSSD, the frequency domain, for groups, one sees an increase in post-exercise condition compared to rest. For the variables related to the time domain , LFun , HFun and LFun / HFun , is observed for both groups reduced for related LFun values , while for LFun / HFun , there was reduced only for the whole group and reflected in the overall group. However, the fact that our study is one of the pioneers in the field, will allow the use of the values described as a reference for future investigations. Our findings may help professionals working in the rehabilitation of people with cervical spinal cord injury through Rugby Wheelchair and trainers aiming at optimizing physical performance, since the mode acts predominantly on the cardiorespiratory system
Mestrado
Atividade Fisica Adaptada
Mestre em Educação Física

Projeto de Graduação apresentado à Universidade Fernando Pessoa como parte dos requisitos para obtenção do grau de Licenciada em Fisioterapia
Introdução: O desporto em cadeira de rodas contempla diversas modalidades, tal como o basquetebol. Os seus praticantes, como atletas que são, não estão isentos de ter lesões. Objetivo: identificar lesões desportivas no ombro dos atletas de basquetebol em cadeira de rodas. Metodologia: a pesquisa computorizada foi realizada na base de dados Pubmed, Sciencedirect, e Archives of physical medecine and rehabilitation. Foram pesquisados estudos prospetivos e retrospetivos sobre lesões no ombro dos atletas de basquetebol em cadeira de rodas. Recolheu-se e foram apresentados dados sobre a incidência, fatores de risco, tipos, localização, causas e sintomas das lesões. Resultados: Nesta revisão foram incluídos 5 estudos, como um risco médio de viés, avaliados pelo “Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology” (STROBE). A totalidade dos estudos integrou 443 participantes, 125 do sexo feminino e 318 do sexo masculino, e com idade media de 32.67 anos. Na maioria dos estudos analisados, os autores concluíram que o basquetebol em cadeira de rodas afeta principalmente o ombro, com distintos tipos de lesões, provocando sintomatologia dolorosa com diferentes frequências, níveis e incapacidades, com possibilidade de interferir na performance desportiva, assim como em aspetos da vida diária. Conclusão: a presente revisão faculta conhecimentos sobre a frequência e características das lesões do ombro no basquetebol em cadeira de rodas O conhecimento abrangente sobre estas lesões desportivas, assim como os seus fatores de risco, constitui uma base essencial para desenvolver estratégias efetivas para a prevenção de lesões.
Background: The wheelchair sport includes various sports, such as basketball. His practitioners, as athletes they are, are not exempt from injury. Objective: to identify sports injuries in the shoulder of basketball athletes in a wheelchair. Methodology: computerized research was carried out in the database Pubmed, Sciencedirect, and Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. Prospective and retrospective studies on shoulder injuries of wheelchair basketball athletes were investigated. Data on the incidence, risk factors, types, location, causes and symptoms of the lesions were collected and presented. Results: Five studies were included in this review, as an average risk of bias, as assessed by STROBE (Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in epidemiology). The total number of studies included 443 participants, 125 female and 318 male, and mean age 32.67 years. In most of the studies analyzed, the authors concluded that wheelchair basketball mainly affects the shoulder with different types of injuries, causing painful symptomatology with different frequencies, levels and disabilities, with the possibility of interfering in sports performance, as well as aspects of daily life. Conclusion: This review provides insight into the frequency and characteristics of shoulder injuries in wheelchair basketball. Comprehensive knowledge of the most common injuries during this sport activity, as well as its risk factors, is an essential basis for developing strategies effective for the prevention of injuries.
N/A

La France se prépare à accueillir les Jeux Paralympiques de 2024 à Paris. C’est une occasion exceptionnelle de rendre visible la communauté du handicap en France, pouvant véhiculer un message fort qui impactera les facteurs d'intégration sociaux-économiques des personnes en situation de handicap. La pratique sportive apporte des bienfaits sur la santé physique et psychologique des pratiquants. Au niveau des handi-sportifs professionnels, ces jeux seront une occasion de se démarquer via leurs compétences physiques, mais également grâce à des équipements sportifs adaptés. En effet, les paralysés moteurs sont dépendants des matériaux technologiques pour sublimer leurs performances physiques. Chaque équipement doit ainsi être adapté et optimisé pour le sportif et selon le sport pratiqué. Les paralysés moteurs ont des besoins particulièrement importants en matière de santé physique et psychologique, qui passe par la pratique d'une activité physique régulière. Or la technologie de pointe est souvent inaccessible chez les sportifs non-professionnels paralysés moteurs. Une réflexion sur la manière de rendre le sport accessible aux paralysés moteurs est à envisager. Cette thèse comporte une première partie sociologique, avec un chapitre sur l'histoire du handicap, du handisport, et les regards de la société sur le handicap. Le second chapitre portera sur les bienfaits d'une pratique sportive, amenant à une réflexion autour de l'accessibilité du handisport, notamment sur le transfert de la technologie sportive de pointe vers la personne en situation de handicap. Il sera suivi d'un questionnement sur l'impact sociétal des Jeux Paralympiques 2024 sur la société. Une piste est également envisagée autour des aspects éthiques et philosophiques de la recherche pour et avec le handicap. Le second chapitre portera sur les bienfaits d'une pratique sportive, amenant à une réflexion autour de l'accessibilité du handisport, notamment sur le transfert de la technologie sportive de pointe vers la personne en situation de handicap. Il sera suivi d'un questionnement sur l'impact sociétal des Jeux Paralympiques 2024 sur la société. Une piste est également envisagée autour des aspects éthiques et philosophiques de la recherche pour et avec le handicap.Une seconde partie technique à pour objectif d’améliorer le fauteuil d’athlétisme afin d'optimiser les performances de handi-sportifs. Le premier chapitre présente le fauteuil roulant et ses déclinaisons sportives. Le second chapitre détaille le fauteuil d'athlétisme et ses caractéristiques physiques à améliorer. Le troisième chapitre comporte une étude d'optimisation de la résistance au roulement du fauteuil d'athlétisme, avec une étude théorique analysant la géométrie du fauteuil de course. La résistance au roulement d’une roue est également étudiée de manière expérimentale selon divers paramètres, comme le carrossage et l’alignement du pneumatique.Enfin, trois annexes ouvriront des perspectives de notre travail. La première présente les prototypes de montage et la calibration du capteur utilisés lors de nos expériences. La seconde concerne un dispositif technique dédié au handisport, la balance multi-axes. La troisième annexe met en avant la récupération musculaire des paralysés moteurs par stimulation électrique fonctionnelle
France is preparing to host the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Games, which will take place in Paris. The Paralympic Games are an exceptional opportunity to make the disability community apparent in France. It will convey a strong message that will impact the factors of social and economic integration of disable people. Sports practice is a source of motivation and inspiration for a large number of individuals, which bring benefits for practitioners' physical and psychological health. For professional athletes with disabilities, Paralympics games will be an opportunity to stand out through their physical skills, but also thanks to adapted sports equipment. Actually, paralyzed people are dependent on technological materials to enhance their physical performance. Each piece of equipment must therefore be adapted and optimized for each athlete according to the sport practiced. Motor paralyzed people have particularly important needs in terms of physical and psychological health, which involves to practice a regular physical activity. They must use adapted sports chairs for the discipline they practiced, however advanced technology is often financially inaccessible for non-professional athletes. Thoughtfulness of how to make sport accessible for paralyzed people should be considered. This thesis includes a first sociological part, with a chapter on the history of disability, disabled sports, and on society's views on disability. The second chapter will focus on the benefits of sport practice, leading to a reflection on the accessibility of disabled's sports, particularly on the transfer of advanced sports technology to the disabled people. It will be followed by a questioning on the societal impact of the 2024 Paralympic Games on society. A track is also envisaged around the ethical and philosophical aspects of research for and with disabilities.\\A second technical part aims to improve the athletic chair in order to optimize the performance of disabled athletes. The first chapter presents wheelchair and its sporting variations, while the second chapter details the athletic wheelchair and its physical characteristics to improve. The third chapter includes a study to optimize the rolling resistance of the athletic chair, with a theoretical study analyzing the geometry of the racing chair. The rolling resistance of a wheel is also studied experimentally according to various parameters, such as the camber and the tire's alignment. Finally, three appendices will open up perspectives of our work. The first presents the mounting prototypes and the calibration of the sensor used during our tire rollingresistance experiments. The second appendix concerns a technical device dedicated to adapted sport, the multi-axis balance. The third appendix introduce muscular recovery of the paralyzed motor by functional electrical stimulation

碩士
國立體育大學
教練研究所
97
The present study aimed to understand the current situations of Taiwanese wheelchair athletes’ psychological skills and to examine the differences of psychological skills among different demographic background wheelchair athletes. The participants were 174 wheelchair athletes (135 males and 39 females). Participants were requested to complete The Athletic Psychological Skills Inventory (Chiou & Chi, 2001) which assessed athletes’ psychological skills. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, and one-way ANOVA. The results of the study were as following: 1. The psychological skills reported by wheelchair athletes were (in the order of scores on the athletic psychological skills inventory): “Coachability”, “Motivation”, “Peaking under pressure & Coping with adversity”, “Confidence” and “Concentration”. 2. In terms of the differences of psychological skills among different demographic background wheelchair athletes, male wheelchair athletes scored higher on both “Concentration” and “Confidence” than female athletes. Females scored higher on “Coachability” than males. There was no difference found among different age groups. In terms of the differences of psychological skills among different athletic years, the results indicated that wheelchair athletes with more than sixteen athletic years scored higher on “Concentration” than those with ten to twelve athletic years. In terms of the differences of psychological skills among different performance levels, the results indicated that wheelchair athletes who were ever in the national teams scored higher “Peaking under pressure & Coping with adversity” , “Motivation” and “Confidence” than those who were not in the national teams.Morover, archery athletes scored higher than Billiard athletes in terms of Peaking under pressure, Coping with adversity and Motivation, and Archery athletes also scored higher than Basketball and Billiard athletes on Cachability.

Submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master’s Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Department of Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2016.
Background There has been a remarkable increase in the participation of sport for athletes with disabilities. Consequently, there have been many international studies on injuries in athletes which have shown a high prevalence in wheelchair basketball, largely attributed to the fast-paced, high intensity nature of the sport. This sport has grown worldwide including South Africa, however, very little research has been published on South African wheelchair basketball players and more research is, therefore, needed. Aim To determine the prevalence and profile of musculoskeletal pain in elite wheelchair basketball players of different point classifications in South Africa. Hypothesis 1: Upper extremity (including neck and back) pain is experienced more commonly in lower point classified wheelchair basketball players than in higher point classified players. Hypothesis 2: Lower extremity pain is experienced more commonly in higher point classified players than in lower point classified players Method This study was a quantitative, cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. The questionnaire comprised of sub-sections on demographics and disability characteristics; activity levels pertaining to wheelchair basketball and other sport/physical activity; the prevalence of pain and the impact thereof on wheelchair basketball and/or activities of daily living. This questionnaire was administered to 48 wheelchair basketball players who were competing in the 2015 Supersport League. A response rate of 70% was decided as the lower limit cut-off for statistical power. Results Fourty-three participants responded yielding an 89.58% response rate. The mean age of participants was 33.3 (SD:9.5) years and the majority of participants (n=35) were male and African (n=29). Out of the 43 participants, 79.1% (n=34) used mobility devices, the majority (n=20) used wheelchairs. Most of the participants (n=41) played wheelchair basketball for more than five years and 32 participants did not participate in other sport. Almost half of the participants (n=25) experienced musculoskeletal pain in the last twelve months or at present, 75% of whom (n=12) visited a Physiotherapist for the pain. More than half of these participants (n=15; 60%) reported that the pain negatively affected their basketball performance. It was established that arm pain occurred frequently in lower point classified players (1.0-2.5 point players) and that hand and wrist pain was also more prevalent in lower point players than in higher point players. The prevalence of lower extremity pain was low and there was no statistically significant difference between higher and lower point classified players. Conclusions and Recommendations The finding that upper extremity pain occurred more frequently in lower point classified players was in keeping with the first hypothesis (the null hypothesis was, therefore, rejected). The second hypothesis was, however, rejected (and the null hypothesis was, therefore, accepted) as lower extremity pain did not occur more frequently in higher point classified players than in lower point classified players. The Eta scores may have been higher and may have shown a much larger than typical relationship between point classification and the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain had there been a larger sample size. Notwithstanding this limitation, it is a challenge to obtain a significantly larger sample size due to the nature and limited number of participants in this sport. More studies are warranted on this group of individuals, as a large number experienced pain which affected more than half of the participants’ performance in wheelchair basketball. These studies are important for the future success of the South African players and the sport in South Africa.
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