| Feature | No.43 January 2005 |
Performance Optimization of Elite Athletes with Disability Yves Vanlandewijck, Belgium |
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 Performance Optimization of Elite Athletes with Disability Yves Vanlandewijck, Belgium