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This presentation was made during the 2004 Pre-Olympic
Congress in Thessaloniki, Greece, August 6-11th. The full text of the
article is not available.
Vanlandewijck Yves C.1, Van de Vliet Peter1,
Gers Brent1, Verellen Joeri1, Van Houtte Siska1
1Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium Introduction
Success in sport for elite athletes with a
disability can be defined from a performance perspective and a health
perspective. Both perspectives are related and equally important for the
athletes’ sports career. Interaction between sport scientists and
the sport-technical and -medical staff should lead to the most optimal
evaluation and intervention programs. However, anno 2004, several obstacles
are still hampering this ideal interaction process: scientists don’t
study relevant sport-specific research questions, and experts from able-bodied
sports don’t transfer their knowledge to sports for the disabled.
As a consequence, trainers/coaches in disability sport lack sport-specific
assessment tools and safe intervention programs. Finally, the actual scientific
knowledge is not communicated to the athletes in such a way that relevant
information can be incorporated in their training and health care regimen.
To verify the above mentioned statements, the following
exemplary questions – derived from the broad platform of disability
sports - will be addressed: 1) what is the actual knowledge about force
generation during hand rim wheelchair propulsion in sport-specific conditions
(Vanlandewijck et al., 2001)? 2) is transfer of knowledge possible between
able-bodied long jump and long jump for above and below knee amputees
(Nolan et al., 2000)? 3) how to evaluate the aerobic capacity of elite
wheelchair athletes in field conditions (Vanlandewijck et al., 1999)?
4) how to improve performance in cerebral palsy racerunning athletes (Vanlandewijck
et al., 2004)? 5) are athletes aware about the impact of training and
competing under extreme conditions (Webborn et al., 2003)?
To close the gap between Science and Sports, the
IPC Sport Science & Education Committee is setting up an international
multicenter network of sport-counseling. In close cooperation with the
sports and the National Paralympic Committees (NPC’s) relevant research
questions will be identified and studied in significant large samples.
Research outcomes will be discussed on an international platform and presented
back to the trainers and athletes through the same communication channels.
Another obstacle to the development of the basic know-how of disability
sport is its position on the international scientific platform. The
organization of disability sport specific conferences brought scientists
and athletes closer together but didn’t trigger quality research.
Scientists focusing on disability sports should have and take the opportunity
to exchange scientific information with their colleagues from able-bodied
sports. Therefore, an amalgamation of conferences on an equal base should
be considered. References
[1]. Nolan L, Lees A. (2000) Touch-down and
take-off characteristics of the long jump performance of world level
above- and below-knee amputee athletes. Ergonomics. 43(10):1637-50.
[2]. Vanlandewijck, Y.C., D.J. Daly, D.M. Theisen
(1999). Field test evaluation of aerobic, anaerobic, and wheelchair
basketball skill performances. International Journal of Sports Medicine
20: 548-554.
[3]. Vanlandewijck Y.C., D. Theisen, D. Daly (2001).
Wheelchair propulsion biomechanics: implications for wheelchair sports.
Sports Medicine 31(5): 339-367.
[4]. Vanlandewijck, Y.C., O’Donnell R., Van
de Vliet P. The place of racerunning in the therapy-sports continuum.
(2004, In preparation)
[5]. Webborn, N. (2003) Athens preparation, heat
and acclimatisation. Presented at the British Paralympic Committee meeting,
March 2003.
Yves Vanlandewijck
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Faculteit Lichamelijke Opvoeding & Kinesitherapie Belgium Email: Yves.Vanlandewijck@flok.kuleuven.ac.be ![]() http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-january2005.htm |