The inflammatory response to a wheelchair half-marathon in people with a spinal cord injury - the role of autonomic function

This study investigates the relationship between autonomic function and the inflammatory response to a wheelchair half-marathon in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Seventeen wheelchair athletes with a cervical SCI (CSCI, N = 7) and without CSCI (NON-CSCI, N = 10) participated in a wheelchair half-marathon. Blood was taken prior, post and 1 h post-race to determine the concentrations of adrenaline, noradrenaline, extracellular heat shock protein 72 (eHsp72) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). A sit-up tilt test was performed to assess autonomic function at rest. CSCI showed a lower supine ratio of the low and high frequency power of the variability in RR intervals (LF/HF RRI, p = 0.038), total and low frequency power of the systolic blood pressure variability (TP SBP, p < 0.001; LF SBP, p = 0.005) compared to NON-CSCI. Following the race, catecholamine concentrations increased only in NON-CSCI (p < 0.036). The increase in IL-6 post-race was larger in NON-CSCI (p = 0.040). Post-race catecholamine levels explained 60% of the variance in the IL-6 response (r = 0.77, p = 0.040), which was further increased when the resting autonomic function indices were added to the regression model (R² > 81%, p < 0.012). In summary, the dampened acute inflammatory response to a wheelchair half-marathon in CSCI was strongly associated with the autonomic dysfunction present in this group.     

Rowing

The purpose of this study was to compare rowing technique on the dynamic RowPerfect ergometer with a single scull. Eight national‐level rowers performed on both the RowPerfect ergometer and in a single scull over 500 m, at rates of 24, 26, and 28 strokes/minute. Blade force and oar angle (on‐water) and handle force and stroke length (on the ergometer) were measured. Both force and stroke angle/length were normalised from 0 to 100 (where 100 was the peak value). Body positions of the subjects at both the catch and finish of each of these rowing strokes were also compared for each stroke rate. The coefficient of multiple determination (CMD) was used to measure the consistency of force curves over a sample of five sequential strokes for each rower. Cross‐correlations were performed between the left‐ and right‐ side on‐water sculling force curves and a mean of these values with the ergometer curve for each rower. Stroke angle/length, which did not vary with rate, was similar for both forms of rowing. The CMDs showed a high consistency across the normalised strokes of each subject (≈0.98). Cross‐correlation values of 0.91, 0.92, and 0.93 were recorded between the force curves from the ergometer and on‐water trials for stroke rates of 24, 26, and 28 strokes/minute, respectively. The mean trunk, thigh and lower leg angles at the catch and finish of the stroke were also similar across the stroke rates as determined by t‐tests. Results indicate that technique used on the RowPerfect ergometer was similar to that for on‐water sculling, thus validating its use in off‐water training.     

An Analysis of Racing Wheelchairs used at the 1980 Olympic Games for the Disabled

Abstract

Photometric analysis of racing wheelchairs used by athletes at the 1980 Olympic Games for the Disabled, held at Arnham, Holland, was undertaken. Chairs were classified by the level of success achieved in them and by the distances over which they were raced. For each chair the position and orientation of the seat was measured, as were the length and the width of the wheelchair frame. In addition, mainwheel camber and handrim diameter were measured.

Significant differences (at or beyond the .05 level) in wheelchair construction were recorded. The more successful wheelchairs were characterized by (1) lower seats, (2) the seat base at a comparatively higher angle to the horizontal, (3) narrower frame, (4) smaller handrims. The chairs used in distance events differed significantly from those used in sprints in (1) a more rearward placement of the seat, (2) lower placement of the seat, (3) longer chair frame and (4) narrower frame construction.     

Exploring Facilitators to Participation for Wheelchair Users at a South African University

ABSTRACT

The focus of research to date has been on barriers rather than facilitating factors to participation for wheelchair users at higher education institutions (HEIs). This article reports on a single case study that explored the facilitating factors which contributed to a young male student with a spinal cord injury’s participation at a South African university. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the student and two peers whom he identified as key informants. The interviews focused on exploring his lived experience to identify factors which the participants perceived as facilitators to participation at university. The four most prominent facilitating factors that emerged during the data analysis were his drive, attitude, disposition and relationships. As the young man fully engaged in a variety of occupations at university, his sense of independence and self-worth were enhanced, which in turn led to him having a meaningful and productive university life, being able to manage any of the barriers he encountered on campus.     

浅谈我国轮椅乒乓球运动的现状与发展

通过对参加2006年全国残疾人乒乓球锦标赛轮椅组运动员、教练员等进行现场观测、调查访问,并查阅相关文献资料,结果表明:我国轮椅乒乓球运动起步较晚;运动员体育基础和理论知识比较薄弱;教练员的数量和经验不足;训练不系统,经费投入少,训练条件不完善等弊端。为此,提出了提高我国轮椅乒乓球运动水平的对策和建议。     

辽宁女子赛艇运动员备战城运会期间生化监控与训练效果分析

辽宁女子赛艇队备战城运会期间,通过生化监控观察周期训练中运动员血红蛋白（Hb）和血尿素（BUN）的变化情况,应用赛艇测功仪进行最大能力2000m、5000m测试,对阶段训练效果进行评价。结果显示：训练量持续增大是引起运动员Hb下降的主要原因;通过BUN监测可了解运动员大负荷训练后恢复情况;测功仪测试所得功率、心率和乳酸数据,可对运动员阶段训练有效分析。     

对我国轮椅篮球运动员心理健康状况的探析

采用问卷调查、访谈等方法,对我国轮椅篮球运动员的心理健康状况进行分析研究。结果显示:所调查的轮椅篮球运动员心理健康状况明显高于普通肢体残疾人,男子轮椅篮球运动员的总体心理健康水平高于女子轮椅篮球运动员,已婚轮椅篮球运动员的心理健康水平高于未婚轮椅篮球运动员,轮椅篮球训练时间长的运动员的总体心理健康水平高于轮椅篮球训练时间短的运动员,说明参加轮椅篮球运动可以有效地促进肢体残疾者的心理健康水平。     

Electric wheelchair control system using brain-computer interface based on alpha-wave blocking

A brain-computer interface （BCI） -based electric wheelchair control system was developed, which enables the users to move the wheelchair forward or backward, and turn left or right without any pre-learning. This control system makes use of the amplitude enhancement of alpha-wave blocking in electroencephalogram （EEG） when eyes close for more than 1 s to constitute a BCI for the switch control of wheelchair movements. The system was formed by BCI control panel, data acquisition, signal processing unit and interface control circuit. Eight volunteers participated in the wheelchair control experiments according to the preset routes. The experimental results show that the mean success control rate of all the subjects was 81.3%, with the highest reaching 93.7%. When one subject＇s triggering time was 2.8 s, i.e., the flashing time of each cycle light was 2.8 s, the average information transfer rate was 8.10 bit/min, with the highest reaching 12.54 bit/min.     

Data logger device applicability for wheelchair tennis court movement

Assessment of movement logging devices is required to ensure suitability for the determination of court-movement variables during competitive sports performance and allow for practical recommendations to be made. Hence, the purpose was to examine wheelchair tennis speed profiles to assess data logger device applicability for court-movement quantification, with match play stratified by rank (HIGH, LOW), sex (male, female) and format (singles, doubles). Thirty-one wheelchair tennis players were monitored during competitive match play. Mixed sampling was employed (male = 23, female = 8). Friedman’s test with Wilcoxon signed-rank post hoc testing revealed a higher percentage of time below 2.5 m · s^?1 [<2.5 vs. ≥2.5 m · s^?1: 89.4 (5.0) vs. 1.2 (3.5)%, Z = ?4.860, P < 0.0005, r = 0.87] with the remaining time [9.0 (4.9%)] spent stationary. LOW-ranked players were stationary for longer than HIGH-ranked counterparts [12.6 (8.7) vs. 8.2 (5.1)%, U = 30.000, P = 0.011, r = 0.46] with more time at low propulsion speeds (<1.0 m · s^?1). HIGH-ranked and doubles players spent more time in higher speed zones than respective counterparts. Females spent more time in the 1.0–1.49 m · s^?1 zone (U = 48.000, P = 0.047, r = 0.36). Regardless of rank, sex or format, propulsion speeds during wheelchair tennis match play are consistent with data logger accuracy. Hence, data logging is appropriate for court-movement quantification.     

自行车运动员进行功率自行车3种递增负荷运动实验比较有氧耐力研究

目的:通过40名自行车专业运动员在功率自行车上进行3种递增负荷运动实验比较有氧耐力.方法:40名自行车运动员(男21,女19)在功率自行车上进行有氧力竭运动,分别采用3 min递增法、1 min递增法和线性递增法进行运动负荷递增,用Oxyam Pro运动心肺功能仪观察最大耗氧量(VO2max)、心率(HRmax)、呼吸商(RQ)等指标,运动前、后采集血乳酸(Lac).结果:3种递增负荷运动实验的VO2max、HRmax指标无显著性差异(P>0.05),3种实验的RQ、Lac指标差异无显著规律性.结论:自行车运动员进行功率自行车3种递增负荷运动实验比较有氧耐力没有统计学差异,3种递增负荷运动实验均可作为功率自行车进行有氧耐力测试的方法.