Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular responses to urodynamics testing after spinal cord injury: The influence of autonomic injury.

Autonomic dysfunction is a prominent concern following spinal cord injury (SCI). In particular, autonomic dysreflexia (AD; paroxysmal hypertension and concurrent bradycardia in response to sensory stimuli below the level of injury) is common in autonomically-complete injuries at or above T6. AD is currently defined as a >20 mmHg increase in systolic arterial pressure (SAP) from baseline, without heart rate (HR) criteria.

The Relationship Between Visual Function and Performance in Para Swimming.

Background: Paralympic swimmers with vision impairment (VI) currently compete in one of the three classes depending on their visual acuity (VA) and/or visual field. However, there is no evidence to suggest that a three-class system is the most legitimate approach for classification in swimming, or that the tests of VA and visual field are the most suitable. An evidence-based approach is required to establish the relationship between visual function and performance in the sport.

May the best-sighted win? The relationship between visual function and performance in Para judo.

This study aimed to establish the optimal cut-off point(s) between classes in a new, evidence-based classification system for VI judo. We collected results from international VI judo competitions held between 2012 and 2018. Data on visual acuity (VA) and visual field (VF) measured during classification were obtained.

Expert Consensus to Guide the Classification of Paralympic Swimmers With Vision Impairment: A Delphi Study.

The International Paralympic Committee requires their member sports to develop a classification system that is sport-specific, meaning that the specific 'class' in which an athlete competes should be suitable for the degree to which the athlete's impairment affects performance in that particular sport. However, swimmers with vision impairment (VI) currently compete in classes that were developed on the basis of legal definitions of blindness, failing to consider how vision impacts swimming performance. The aim of this study was to establish expert guidance on the specific requirements for a sport-specific system of classification for VI swimming.

International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Joint Position Stand on the Sport-Specific Classification of Athletes with Vision Impairment.

Classification is a defining characteristic of para-sports whereby eligible athletes are allocated a sport class to compete against others with similar activity limitations. To account for the unique characteristics of each sport, para-sports should develop their own classification system using evidence that demonstrates the impact of impairment on performance in that sport. Although the move towards sport-specific classification has progressed in sports for athletes with physical and intellectual impairments, sports for athletes with vision impairment (VI) continue to use the same three classes irrespective of the sport, with classes delineated by legal definitions of low vision and blindness.