Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy display altered pacing strategies in distance‐deceived shuttle running trials

Abstract

This study investigated performance and physiology to understand pacing strategies in elite Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy (CP). Six Paralympic athletes with CP and 13 able-bodied (AB) athletes performed two trials of eight sets of 10 shuttles (total 1600m). One trial was distance-deceived (DEC, 1000 m + 600 m) one trial was nondeceived (N-DEC, 1600 m). Time (s), heart rate (HR, bpm), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE, units), and electromyography of five bilateral muscles (EMG) were recorded for each set of both trials. The CP group ran slower than the AB group, and pacing differences were seen in the CP DEC trial, presenting as a flat pacing profile over the trial (P < 0.05). HR was higher and RPE was lower in the CP group in both trials (P < 0.05). EMG showed small differences between groups, sides, and trials. The present study provides evidence for a possible pacing strategy underlying exercise performance and fatigue in CP. The results of this study show (1) underperformance of the CP group, and (2) altered pacing strategy utilization in the CP group. We proposed that even at high levels of performance, the residual effects of CP may negatively affect performance through selection of conservative pacing strategies during exercise.

A novel method to guide classification of para swimmers with limb deficiency

“…An evidence‐based classification system is one that has a clearly stated purpose, being to minimize the impact of impairment on the outcome of competition, and that the methods used to assign class are based on empirical evidence . The most fundamental aspect of developing evidence‐based methods of classification is the quantification of the relationship between impairment and sports performance …”

“…2 The most fundamental aspect of developing evidence-based methods of classification is the quantification of the relationship between impairment and sports performance. [9][10][11][12][13] Para swimmers with limb deficiency, resulting from trauma or congenital birth defect, have reduced body surface area that impacts their ability to produce propulsive forces and minimize their resistance in the water. [14][15][16] The current classification system uses direct limb length measurements and body segment parameters (in cases of bilateral impairments) to determine the relative length of para swimmers' affected limb segments and summate a points score used for classification.…”

Maximal Fully Tethered Swim Performance in Para Swimmers With Physical Impairment

“…This phenomenon has been evidenced in Para athletes with cerebral palsy that show neuromuscular irregularities towards the end of maximal exercise performance, including bilateral coactivation, atypical firing patterns and continuous irregular muscle activation 21 that negatively affects performance through the selection of a conservative pacing strategy. 22 The similar fatigue indexes for swimmers with different types of physical impairment in this study ( Figure 2I) suggests that classification should not account for this phenomenon, at least in the short-distance events, until further research defines the determining factors influencing pacing and fatigue profiles in these athletes during maximal swimming.…”

Wearable Sensors in Sports for Persons with Disability: A Systematic Review

“…As regards quality assessment results, 28 papers had a quality score between 0.81 and 1 [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 ], 10 papers were between 0.61 and 0.8 [ 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ] and only one paper was below 0.6 [ 74 ]. Overall, the checklist items that reported the lower levels of scoring (e.g., partial or no score) were those concerning (a) the adequacy of sample size (16 papers), (b) the description/appropriateness of the strategy of subject/comparison group selection (10 papers).…”