Objectives: Para athletes with brain impairment are affected by hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis, which adversely affect starting, sprinting and submaximal running. The aim was to identify and synthesise evidence from studies that have compared the biomechanics of runners with brain impairments (RBI) and non-disabled runners (NDR).
Design: Systematic review.
Methods: Five journal databases were systematically searched from inception to March 2020. Included studies compared the biomechanics of RBI (aged>14 years) and NDR performing either block-starts, sprinting, or submaximal running.
Results: Eight studies were included, analysing a total of 100 RBI (78M:22F; 18-38 years) diagnosed with either cerebral palsy (n=44) or traumatic brain injury (n=56). Studies analysed block-starts (n=3), overground sprinting (n=3) and submaximal running (n=2), and submaximal treadmill running (n=1). Horizontal velocity during starts, sprinting and self-selected submaximal speeds were lower in RBI. During sprinting and submaximal running, compared with NDR, RBI had shorter stride length, step length, and flight time, increased ground-contact time, increased cadence, and reduced ankle and hip range of motion. In submaximal running, RBI had decreased ankle-power generation at toe-off.
Conclusions: There is limited research and small sample sizes in this area. However, preliminary evidence suggests that RBI had lower sprint speeds and biomechanical characteristics typical of submaximal running speeds in NDR, including increased ground-contact times and reduced stride length, step length, and flight times. Meaningful interpretation of biomechanical findings in RBI is impeded by impairment variability (type, severity and distribution), and methods which permit valid, reliable impairment stratification in larger samples are required.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2020.05.006 | DOI Listing |
Clin Nutr
December 2024
Federal University of Minas Gerais, Department of Physical Education, Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627 Campus-Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Electronic address:
Introduction: Type 2 diabetes, characterized by hyperglycemia, is closely linked to obesity and low-grade inflammation. Acute cocoa flavanols (CF) intake has demonstrated benefits in vasoreactivity, cognitive functions, and antioxidant enzyme activity. However, the physiological mechanisms of CF concerning glucose uptake, inflammatory mediators, and their interplay with aerobic exercise remain unclear in populations with metabolic diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Sports Physiol Perform
December 2024
Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
Purpose: In world-class middle- and long-distance running races, a Wavelight signal has recently been used as a pacing guide for setting records. The aim of the present study was to compare performance and psychophysiological effects between light-guided, drafting, and nonassisted pacing conditions in distance runners.
Methods: Fifteen male middle- and long-distance runners of national and regional standard ran three 5000-m time trials in a counterbalanced order with the following pacing distribution: the first 4000 m and last 1000 m were covered at submaximal and maximal intensities, respectively.
Cureus
November 2024
Anatomical Sciences, Western University of Health Sciences, Lebanon, USA.
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are due to jumping, rapid decelerating, or quick changes in direction, but recent research indicates that accumulated tissue fatigue from repetitive submaximal knee loading can also cause ACL disruption. Partial degenerative ACL tears due to overuse are currently thought to be asymptomatic until the ligament is at least 50% torn. In this case, a 36-year-old female runner presenting with sharp lateral joint line knee pain, which precluded running or hiking over one mile, was found to have an atraumatic 10% thickness ACL tear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPLoS One
December 2024
Department of Physical Activity and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique, has been shown to increase exercise performance in strength and cycling studies but its effects on running endurance remain unclear. The objectives of this randomized sham-controlled crossover trial were to assess tDCS efficacy on submaximal treadmill running time to exhaustion (TTE). Forty-five healthy male runners aged between 18 and 32 years (mean maximal oxygen consumption: 46.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Physiol
December 2024
Department of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
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