Para-athlete

The 6th International Consensus Conference on Concussion in Sport, Amsterdam 2022, addressed sport-related concussion (SRC) in adults, adolescents, and children. We highlight the updated evidence-base and recommendations regarding SRC in children (5-12 years) and adolescents (13-18 years). Prevention strategies demonstrate lower SRC rates with mouthguard use, policy disallowing bodychecking in ice hockey, and neuromuscular training in adolescent rugby. The Sport Concussion Assessment Tools (SCAT) demonstrate robustness with the parent and child symptom scales, with the best diagnostic discrimination within the first 72 hours postinjury...

BACKGROUND: Low bone mineral density (BMD) increases the risk of bone stress injuries (BSI) and is one of several clinical concerns in Para athlete sports medicine. However, whether bone microarchitecture is altered in Para athletes is not known. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate BMD, bone microarchitecture and incidence of bone stress injuries in Norwegian elite Para athletes. DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study in Para athletes, Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (iDXA, Lunar, GE Health Care) derived areal BMD, trabecular bone score (TBS), a surrogate marker for bone microarchitecture, and body composition (body weight (BW), lean body mass (LBM), fat mass (FM), fat percentage) were investigated and compared between ambulant and non-ambulant athletes...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

The primary purpose of this study was to adapt selected accuracy and precision tests in table tennis to the specific skills of elite table tennis players with impairment. The study included a sample of 23 Para table tennis players with an average age of 31.8 ± 12.22 years (including 30.4% females) who belonged to the senior Polish Para table tennis team. A battery of six tests evaluating stroke accuracy and serve precision was assessed. The analysis of the reliability of these tests confirmed the legitimacy of using this battery of accuracy and precision tests to assess the skills of Para table tennis players in all three integrated sport classes: players in wheelchairs, in a standing position, and with intellectual impairment...

The current systematic review (PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022334707) of observational (OS) and interventional studies (IS) aimed at evaluating the state of scientific knowledge on the basics of sports nutrition, framing discipline-specific dietary recommendations, and indicating potential directions for future studies in various age, experience level, and able-bodied abilities groups of basketball players (BP). A systematic search of PubMed, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science ended on 20 December 2022. Records were excluded if reporting studies on animals, sport disciplines other than basketball, or supplementation protocols other than those related to macronutrients and hydration manipulations...

No abstract text is available yet for this article.

PURPOSE: Para-alpine sit skiers face unique challenges in balance control due to their disabilities and the use of sit skis. This study assessed their multi-joint coordination before and after slackline training. METHODS: Nine alpine sit skiers (6 M/3 F; 27 ± 8 years; height: 168.3 ± 6.0 cm; body mass: 55.4 ± 6.9 kg) with different disabilities (LW10-LW12) volunteered for the experiment...

This study follows a previously defined framework to investigate the impact of impairment on performance in Para dressage athletes. Twenty-one elite Para dressage athletes (grades I to V) and eleven non-disabled dressage athletes (competing at Prix St. Georges or Grand Prix) participated. Data were collected in two phases: performing a two minute custom dressage test on a riding simulator while kinematic data were synchronously collected using inertial measurement units (2000 Hz) and optical motion capture (100 Hz), and clinically assessed using a battery of impairment assessment tools administered by qualified therapists...

Since publication of this paper (Royal Society open science, 2022. 9 (1): p. 211799), the authors have published a correction clarifying that the paper presents a case study that '… did not meet the definition for research with regard to human subjects'. The data are incorrectly referred to as experimental because the study has no experimental control. Furthermore, the paper has been presented previously but the version presented here selectively omits several analyses, posing a significant risk of bias...

The purpose of this study was to review the various risks and benefits of wheelchair basketball (WB) and explore some of the research which outlines factors that influence WB player performance and conditioning. WB offers several physical and psychological advantages. Physically, it can improve muscle strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness while decreasing the prevalence of chronic physical disorders. From a psychological standpoint, WB has been shown to alleviate anxiety and feelings of depression while also creating and improving social relationships...

BACKGROUND: Para athletes experience high prevalence and incidence of health problems related to sport. Despite this, there are few longitudinal studies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, prevalence, incidence, and severity of health problems in para athletes from one of the Brazilian Paralympic Reference Centers during a sports season and to compare the prevalence of health problems between para athletics, para powerlifting, and para swimming. METHODS: This prospective pilot study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020...

This study investigated the impact of performing a closed kinetic chain with the lower limbs on isometric upper-limb pull and push strength. Sixty-two elite handcyclists were assessed with the Manual Muscle Test and allocated to groups with partial to normal (LLF) or no lower-limb (no-LLF) function. Both groups performed upper-limb strength measurements under two kinetic-chain conditions. During the closed-chain condition, the lower limbs were attached to two footrests, providing horizontal and vertical support...

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe the eating habits of para-athletes who attended a specialized training center in Brazil. METHODS: Participants were recruited from the Sports Training Center at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. Energy, macronutrient (expressed in absolute terms and relative to body weight), fiber, cholesterol, and micronutrient intakes were assessed via a food frequency questionnaire, based on intakes over the preceding 12 mo...

Hedonic well-being relates to how individuals experience and rate their lives. People with disabilities due to their pathology may more frequently suffer from anxiety and depressive disorders than their able-bodied counterparts. Sports participation is an essential way to cope with disability. On the other hand, compared with their able-bodied peers, para-athletes undergo a unique series of stressors. Little is known in terms of hedonic well-being in this specific population. We present the results of a multi-country survey of self-perceived hedonic well-being by para-athletes of different sports disciplines and a control group (disabled individuals not playing competitive sports), using the "Psychological General Well-Being Index" (PGWBI)...

Having psychological advantage that enables athletes to perform at their best regardless of challenges and adversity is what is meant by having mental toughness (MT). In order to better understand the mental toughness of elite Indian standing and sitting para-thrower athletes, this study looked at a variety of mental sub - scales. Elite para-throwers who competed at the international level, consider making up the sample of the current study; which includes a total of nine elite para-throwers [5 Standing Para-throwers (StPT) and 4 Seated Para-throwers (SePT)]...

INTRODUCTION: Limited effort has been invested in understanding doping in Paralympic sport. The limited evidence that exists suggests that factors influencing doping in parasport are similar to Olympic sport. However, based on the design and nature of the previous studies, where methods have been mostly limited to qualitative data and prevalence numbers, further research is warranted to extend previous findings. METHODS: Informed by current evidence from Paralympic and Olympic sport, we aimed to investigate (1) para-athletes' perceptions of Anti-Doping Rule Violations (ADRVs) and responsibility for them, (2) descriptive norms for doping in parasport (3) perceptions of anti-doping education and legitimacy of anti-doping authorities, and (4) coach engagement in doping prevention and levels of doping confrontation efficacy using a quantitative survey approach...

OBJECTIVES: Limited research exists on the sleep profiles of South African Para athletes. The aim of this study was to describe sleep quality, day-time sleepiness and chronotype of South African Para athletes, and to compare the relationship between sleep-related outcomes and demographic factors to athletes from a higher resourced country. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted. Sleep-related characteristics were assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness scale and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire...

CONTEXT: Participation in sports is associated with a risk of sports-related health problems. For athletes with an impairment, sports-related health problems further burden an already restricted lifestyle, underlining the importance of prevention strategies in para-sports. OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive overview with quality assessment of the literature on sports-related health problems, their etiology, and available preventive measures in para-sports following the steps of the Sequence of Prevention...

Paralympic athletes may be at increased risk for exertional heat illness (EHI) due to reduced thermoregulatory ability as a consequence of their impairment. This study investigated the occurrence of heat-stress related symptoms and EHI, and the use of heat mitigation strategies in Paralympic athletes, both in relation to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and previous events. Paralympic athletes competing in Tokyo 2020 were invited to complete an online survey five weeks prior to the Paralympics and up to eight weeks after the Games...

BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal (GI) problems represent a health burden in Para athletes and can ultimately reduce athletic performance. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a randomized controlled crossover trial (RCCT) assessing the effects of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation on the health of Swiss elite wheelchair athletes. METHODS: The RCCT was conducted between March 2021 and October 2021. Athletes were randomized to receive either a daily probiotic (3 g of probiotic preparation, including eight bacterial strains), or a daily prebiotic (5 g of oat bran) supplementation first...