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Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy display altered pacing strategies in distance‐deceived shuttle running trials
Author(s) -
Runciman P.,
Tucker R.,
Ferreira S.,
AlbertusKajee Y.,
Derman W.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/sms.12575
Subject(s) - medicine , cerebral palsy , athletes , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , time trial , perceived exertion , electromyography , randomized controlled trial , elite athletes , motor unit recruitment , heart rate , blood pressure
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.