Background: The last decade has seen the dynamic development of Paralympic sport, including the development of training facilities and training methods that allow for the achievement of results at the highest level in this group. This may be associated with an increased risk of injury and traumas. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and locations of injuries and the types of trauma suffered by goalball players. Methods: The study covered 43 players (24 women and 19 men) of the Goalball European Championship. A questionnaire survey was conducted. Results: The injuries were reported by 44%. Most often they concerned the upper limbs (92%). Positive correlations were found between age and prevalence of pelvis and knee joint injuries, whereas negative correlations occurred between competitive experience and the prevalence and location of injuries in the area of the upper limb. The highest percentage of trauma was found for epidermal abrasions, contusions, and dislocations. A negative correlation was observed between age and the prevalence of epidermal abrasions, whereas a positive correlation occurred between age and the prevalence of sprains and dislocations. The competitive experience was negatively correlated with the prevalence of abrasions and contusions and positively correlated with the prevalence of sprains and dislocations. A statistically significant correlation was found between body mass (BM) and the prevalence of injuries. In 23% of cases, training was interrupted for more than one month, whereas in 43%, the break was below one month. Conclusions: Playing position in goalball does not affect the prevalence of injuries and traumas, while body mass has a moderate effect on the prevalence of these events. The age of the subjects and their sports experience impact significantly on the prevalence and types of injuries.

Lipid disorders, obesity and overweight are considered one of the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factors. Population surveys carried out in Poland have demonstrated a tendency for lipid disorders to occur in 70% and overweight and obesity in more than half of Poles. No such studies have been conducted in groups of people with vision impairment so far. Yet, regular involvement of visually impaired people in sports is likely to reduce cardiovascular risk. Therefore, the authors attempted to evaluate the lipid profile and nutritional status of male goalball players. Thirty two blind or visually impaired male goalball players aged 20 to 45 years participated in the study during which somatic variables (BH, BM, WC, VFR, BMI) and the lipid profile (TC, LDL, HDL, TG) were evaluated. Overweight was found in 40.6% of athletes, with obesity being at the level of 9.3%. A high correlation was found between visceral fat and the BMI (r=0.7; p<0.001), as well as between visceral fat and WC (r=0.8; p<0.001). Abnormal total cholesterol levels were recorded for LDL (22% of study participants), HDL (17%) and triglycerides (13%). Lower levels of individual components of lipid profiles (and higher levels for HDL) were found in athletes with a normal BMI. A correlation was found between the BMI and TG (r=0.4, p<0.01), WC and TG (r=0.4, p<0.01), VFR and LDL ( r=0.4, p<0.05) and TG (r=0.5, p<0.001). The percentage of overweight and obese subjects with vision impairment was lower compared to the general population of men in Poland, with a more beneficial lipid profile. Regular physical activity of the study participants is likely to have a positive effect on their health.

Background The BMI index cannot always be used in people with intellectual disabilities due to neuromuscular coordination disorders and psychological barriers that may hinder conventional body weight measurement. The study aimed to assess the usefulness of BMI and BAI in estimating obesity and body fat in people with intellectual disabilities. Methods The first stage of the research involved 161 people with profound intellectual disabilities. Somatic parameters (BM, BH, WC, HC) were measured and BMI, BAI, WHR were calculated. Fifty seven persons with above-normal BMI and BAI were included in the second stage of the study and biochemical parameters were determined (TC, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, TG, GL). Results According to both BMI and BAI classifications, most people were overweight or obese. A high correlation of %BF with BMI and BAI indices was observed (r = 0.78). The sensitivity of both indices was 95.65%. In groups with above-normal BMI and BAI, an upward trend was found for mean values of TC, LDL, TG, and GL, with a simultaneous downward trend for HDL. Statistically significant intergroup differences were recorded for TG and GL (p < 0.05) for both indices (BMI and BAI). Conclusions Our research demonstrated that BAI is complementary to BMI and can be recommended for the estimation of body fat and cardiometabolic risks in people with intellectual disabilities. Due to the ease of measurement, BAI has high utility value.

Background With the dynamic development of professional Paralympic sport, the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and structural and/or functional disturbances in Para athletes constantly increases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of internal compensatory mechanisms on selected aspects of body structure and function in elite sitting volleyball players. Methods The study included eighteen elite sitting volleyball players (male; n = 12, female; n = 6, age; 36.0 ± 6.1, body mass; 76.6 ± 16.1, body height; 179.3 ± 0.1) from the Polish national team. Retrospective and direct participatory observation methods were used in the study. NMQ-7 was used to assess the current prevalence and location of musculoskeletal pain. The evaluation of spinal curvature and pelvic inclination was performed using a non-invasive Medi Mouse method (Idiag M360) in three different trunk positions. All statistical analyses were performed using Statistica 13.3 software package. Results Lumbar hypolordosis was a predominant sagittal deviation of spinal curvature (n = 15;83%). Low back pain (LBP) and neck pain were the most frequent complaints (50%). Statistically significant differences in the values of thoracic kyphosis angle, pelvic inclination, and spine length (SL) in sagittal standing flexion and extension were found. However, there was no statistically significant difference in sagittal standing flexion for the lumbar lordosis angle with a simultaneous significant change in pelvic inclination (66.9°). Moreover, a tendency to interpenetration of relationships between variables that characterize (a) body structure and (b) function of the spine and musculoskeletal pain were observed. Shoulder pain correlated with SL (R = 0.6; p < 0.05) and body height (R = 0.5; p < 0.05). Pelvic inclination correlated with shoulder pain, LBP (R = 0.5; p < 0.05/R = 0.6; p < 0.01), and body trunk fat mass (R = − 0.6; p < 0.05). Conclusions Trunk fat mass induces internal compensatory mechanisms to maintain optimal pelvic inclination and sagittal spinal balance. Furthermore, the level of pelvic mobility may determine musculoskeletal pain in Para athletes with lower limb impairment.

Introduction: Obesity is a common health problem among adults people with intellectual disabilities. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of obesity among people with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities by gender, age and degree of disability. Material and methods: The study group comprised 194 individuals with moderate and severe intellectual disability, aged 20 to 50 years. They were all participants of an occupational therapy workshop. Measurements of height and body weight, waist and hip circumference were conducted. BMI and WHR were calculated. A double-classification ANOVA was carried out to compare outcomes by age and gender. Analysed parameters were standardised by gender and age. Standardised variables were subject to comparative analysis (one-way ANOVA) with respect to the level of disability. Results: Over a half of the examined individuals exhibited excessive weight gain. Obesity was found in almost 30% of our female participants while among male participants this proportion equalled 19.4%. Waist circumference (p≤0.008) and WHR (p≤0.001) differed significantly between men and women, women had android obesity more often. Conclusions: Obesity appears to be a common problem among people with intellectual disabilities; to a greater extent among women. Gender was a factor determining the type of obesity since android obesity was more commonly diagnosed in women. The prevalence of obesity did not seem to be associated with age.

Introduction: Although the assessment of physique and body composition poses methodological, technical, and interpretative difficulties, it is of great importance for the health of people with disabilities. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that sedentariness and sports activity are factors differentiating anthropometric characteristics, indices, and body composition in people with physical disabilities. Materials and methods: Fifty-eight people were examined: 48 elite Polish Para athletes, including Paralympic track and field athletes (PTF, n = 8), sitting volleyball players (SV, n = 15), wheelchair rugby players (WR, n = 25), and individuals with cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI, n = 10). Body mass (BM), body height (BH), body length (BL), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body fat percentage (%FT), and visceral fat rating (VFR) were measured. Furthermore, BMI, BMIcorrected, and body adiposity index (BAI) were evaluated. Results: The highest WC, BAI, %FT, and VFR were found for the CSCI group. The type of sport significantly differentiated between anthropometric features, indices, and body composition of the athletes. Sitting volleyball players achieved the highest mean BM (83.9), WC (92.9), HC (103.7), BMI (24.5), BAI (23.4), and VFR (12.6). The highest %FT (28.9) was found in wheelchair rugby players. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that forced sedentariness and sports activity among individuals with disabilities differentiate body structure and physique.

The tendency for musculoskeletal complaints, injuries, and traumas remains significant among Para athletes. The aim of the study was to identify and verify the variables that impact the incidence and location of musculoskeletal pain in elite athletes with disabilities. It was assumed, that the type of disability and not the type of sport, or the type of injuries and traumas is the crucial determinant of the prevalence and location of musculoskeletal pain in Para athletes. A direct-participatory observation method was used in the study including both subjective (surveys questionnaires) and objective (anthropometric) methods of assessment. The study included 35 male and female elite Para athletes from the Polish national team (sitting volleyball [SG1: n = 21], para swimming [SG2 = 14]). Both groups of Para athletes mostly reported pain in the neck (37%), and the lower back (34%). The Spearman’s rank-order correlation showed several large inversely proportional relationships between somatic parameters and the values in the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire from the last 7 days (NMQ-7) for SG2 and some moderate to large correlations between body adiposity index (BAI) and the prevalence of injuries, the total number of rehabilitation sessions, the number of humeral joint and fingers rehabilitation sessions, breaks from training over 4 weeks in SG1. In both groups relationships were found between the duration of Paralympic training and the number of injuries and rehabilitation sessions (R = −0.4; P < .02) and between the exclusion from training for less 4 and over 4 weeks (R = −0.4; P < .03). The age of the Para athletes correlated with the NMQ-7 (wrists) (R = 0.4; P < .01). Both duration of disability and the type and severity of the disability may be crucial determinants of the prevalence and location of pain in the musculoskeletal system in Para athletes. Sport-specific training seems to induce specific musculoskeletal complaints.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify selected cardiometabolic risk markers and determine their correlation with lifestyles of adults with visual impairments. Methods: The study randomly selected 49 people with visual impairments (25 women and 24 men) aged 17–84 years (mean age 58.5 years). Body build, composition metrics, biochemical parameters, level of physical activity, and eating habits were evaluated. Results: Excessive body mass was found in 65% of respondents (72% women and 58% men). Above-typical blood total cholesterol levels were found in 52% of women and 42% of men, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in 33% of men and 20% of women, triglyceride levels in 16% of women and 17% of men and glucose in 56% of women and 42% of men. Reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were found in 25% of men and 20% of women. Results showed that 43% of respondents were not involved in physical activity at the recommended level. The use of nicotine was declared by 18% of respondents. No significant correlations were observed for the relationships between physical activity and somatic and biochemical parameters. Eating habits had a significant effect on the prevalence of above-typical LDL cholesterol levels, whereas smoking led to significant differences between study participants due to body mass index and fat percentage. Discussion: Lifestyles of individuals with visual impairments were not entirely healthy. Due to the characteristics of the disability, people with visual impairments are challenged with barriers to living healthy lifestyles. Implications for practitioners: The information obtained here can be used to implement adequate measures to provide equal opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision to lead healthy lifestyles and improve their quality of life.