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Towards developing a test of global motion for use with Paralympic athletes.

ABSTRACT: The Paralympic classification system for visual impairment only assesses static visual acuity and static visual field despite many Paralympic sports being dynamic in nature. As a first step towards determining whether motion perception tests should be used in Paralympic classification, we assessed whether motion coherence thresholds could be measured when visual acuity or visual fields were impaired at levels consistent with the current Paralympic classification criteria. Visual acuity and visual field impairments corresponding to Paralympic classification criteria were simulated in normally sighted individuals and motion coherence thresholds were measured. Mild-to-moderate visual acuity impairments had no effect on motion coherence thresholds. The most severe Paralympic class of acuity impairment (?2.6 logMAR) significantly elevated thresholds. A trend towards superior motion coherence thresholds in the peripheral visual field compared to the central visual field was also present. Global motion perception appears to be measurable under simulated visual impairments that are consistent with the Paralympic classification. Poorer global motion perception was found for visual acuities >2.6 logMAR and visual fields <10° in diameter. Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between global motion perception and sports performance in athletes with real visual impairment.

SUBMITTER: Roberts JW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7242343 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Towards developing a test of global motion for use with Paralympic athletes.

Roberts James W JW Thompson Benjamin B Leat Susan J SJ Dalton Kristine K

Scientific reports 20200521 1

The Paralympic classification system for visual impairment only assesses static visual acuity and static visual field despite many Paralympic sports being dynamic in nature. As a first step towards determining whether motion perception tests should be used in Paralympic classification, we assessed whether motion coherence thresholds could be measured when visual acuity or visual fields were impaired at levels consistent with the current Paralympic classification criteria. Visual acuity and visua ...[more]

PMID: 32439862

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Project description:The purpose of the work was to identify the influence of functional class and degree of damage to extremities on psychophysiological indicators of Paralympians. The study involved 33 elite athletes with musculoskeletal system disorders of the 6 (n = 15) and 10 (n = 18) functional classes in table tennis, aged 21?25 years old. Parameters characteristic for determining the psychophysiological state and typological characteristics of the nervous system were analyzed with the help of computer programs for psychophysiological testing. We determined the latent time of simple and complex reactions in different testing modes. Dispersion analysis was also used. We applied single-factor multidimensional dispersion analysis: one-way analysis of variance and General Linear Model, Multivariate. The indicators of psychophysiological testing were applied as dependent variables. The values of the functional class of athletes were used as the independent variable. To study the influence of damage degree of the upper or lower extremities on psychophysiological indicators, the extremities damage degree was applied as an independent variable. The time in the Paralympic 6 functional class to reach the minimum signal exposure in feedback mode was significantly longer compared with the 10 Paralympic functional class (p < 0.05). Comparing psychophysiological indicators when Paralympians are divided into groups more differentiated than functional classes (that is, according to the nature of the disease or the degree of limb lesions), significant differences were found in all psychophysiological indicators between the athletes of different groups. The greatest impact on psychophysiological indicators was a lesion of the lower extremities. The training of Paralympians in table tennis should consider the reaction rate indicators. In addition, when improving the functional classification of Paralympians in table tennis, a more differentiated approach should be taken when considering their capabilities, including psychophysiological indicators. During training and functional classification of Paralympic athletes in table tennis, it is important to consider their functional class as well as the degree of damage to upper and lower extremities and the level of psychophysiological functioning.

Project description:ObjectivesThe primary aim was to compare physiological and perceptual outcome parameters identified at common gas exchange and blood lactate (BLa) thresholds in Paralympic athletes while upper-body poling. The secondary aim was to compare the fit of the breakpoint models used to identify thresholds in the gas exchange thresholds data versus continuous linear and curvilinear (no-breakpoint) models.MethodsFifteen elite Para ice hockey players performed seven to eight 5-min stages at increasing workload until exhaustion during upper-body poling. Two regression lines were fitted to the oxygen uptake (VO2)-carbon dioxide (VCO2) and minute ventilation (VE)/VO2 data to determine the ventilatory threshold (VT), and to the VCO2-VE and VE/VCO2 data to determine the respiratory compensation threshold (RCT). The first lactate threshold (LT1) was determined by the first rise in BLa (+0.4mmol·L-1 and +1.0mmol·L-1) and a breakpoint in the log-log transformed VO2-BLa data, and the second lactate threshold (LT2) by a fixed rise in BLa above 4mmol·L-1 and by employing the modified Dmax method. Paired-samples t-tests were used to compare the outcome parameters within and between the different threshold methods. The fit of the two regression lines (breakpoint model) used to identify thresholds in the gas exchange data was compared to that of a single regression line, an exponential and a 3rd order polynomial curve (no-breakpoint models) by Akaike weights.ResultsAll outcome parameters identified with the VT (i.e., breakpoints in the VO2-VCO2 or VE/VO2 data) were significantly higher than the ones identified with a fixed rise in BLa (+0.4 or +1.0mmol·L-1) at the LT1 (e.g. BLa: 5.1±2.2 or 4.9±1.8 vs 1.9±0.6 or 2.3±0.5mmol·L-1,p<0.001), but were not significantly different from the log-log transformed VO2-BLa data (4.3±1.6mmol·L-1,p>0.06). The outcome parameters identified with breakpoints in the VCO2-VE data to determine the RCT (e.g. BLa: 5.5±1.4mmol·L-1) were not different from the ones identified with the modified Dmax method at the LT2 (5.5±1.1mmol·L-1) (all p>0.53), but were higher compared to parameters identified with VE/VCO2 method (4.9±1.5mmol·L-1) and a fixed BLa value of 4mmol·L-1 (all p<0.03). Although we were able to determine the VT and RCT via different gas exchange threshold methods with good fit in all 15 participants (mean R2>0.931), the continuous no-breakpoint models had the highest probability (>68%) of being the best models for the VO2-VCO2 and the VCO2-VE data.ConclusionsIn Paralympic athletes who exercise in the upper-body poling mode, the outcome parameters identified at the VT and the ones identified with fixed methods at the LT1 showed large differences, demonstrating that these cannot be used interchangeably to estimate the aerobic threshold. In addition, the close location of the VT, RCT and LT2 does not allow us to distinguish the aerobic and anaerobic threshold, indicating the presence of only one threshold in athletes with a disability exercising in an upper-body mode. Furthermore, the better fit of continuous no-breakpoint models indicates no presence of clear breakpoints in the gas exchange data for most participants. This makes us question if breakpoints in the gas exchange data really exist in an upper-body exercise mode in athletes with disabilities.

Project description:IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has huge influences on daily life and is not only associated with physical but also with major psychological impacts. Mental health problems and disorders are frequently present in elite paralympic athletes. Due to the pandemic situation, new stressors (e.g., loss of routine, financial insecurity) might act upon the athletes. Therefore, the assessment of mental health in athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to identify prevalence of psychological problems and propose countermeasures.MethodsThe mental health of German paralympic athletes was longitudinally monitored (starting in May 2019). The athletes completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4) on a weekly basis and reported a stress level, training hours, and training load. During the pandemic, 8 measurement time points (March 2020 to April 2021) were used to reflect the psychological health course of the athletes. In parallel, a convenience sample of the general population was questioned about their psychological distress, including the PHQ-4. To be included in the analysis, participants of both groups had to complete at least 4 measurement time points. Matching of the para-athletes and the general population sample was prioritized upon completion of the same measurement time points, gender, and age.ResultsSeventy-eight paralympic athletes (40 women, 38 men, age: 29.8 ± 11.4 years) met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-eight matched pairs of the general population (40 women; 38 men; age: 30.5 ± 10.9 years) were identified. The para-athletes had a significantly (p <0.0001; 0.39 < r <0.48) lower PHQ-4 value at each measurement time point compared to the matched control group. No significant age or sex differences were evident regarding the symptom burden. In para-athletes, no significant and a weak positive correlation was found between decreased training load and PHQ-4 values and a stress level, respectively. Reduced physical activity was significantly (p <0.0001) associated with higher PHQ-4 values in the general population sample.DiscussionLower PHQ-4 values were reported by the para-athletes compared to the general population sample. However, small sample sizes must be considered while interpreting the data. Nevertheless, adequate support for individuals suffering from severe psychopathological symptoms should be provided for para-athletes as well as for the general population.

Dataset Information

Towards developing a test of global motion for use with Paralympic athletes.

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Towards developing a test of global motion for use with Paralympic athletes.

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