Technology Supporting the Para-athletes Flashcards
Wheelchair Ergometer
Allows athlewtes to bring their own wheel chairs
Analyses the movement and power created during matches and training
Wheelchair athlete combination
Customised, A, WC, Ergonomics
Customised for the athlete to allow for peak athlete perfromance for the given sport
No two are different
Athlete
Wheelchair
Configuration
Ergonomics of Sports Wheelchair performance
Wheelchair athlete combination: Athlete
Physical
Aerobic fitness, strength, power etc.
Impairment Level of SCl etc.
Skill
Wheelchair athlete combination: Wheelchair
Seat position, camber, wheel size etc.
Vehicle mechanics
Rolling resistance, air resistance, internal friction etc.
Design
Materials etc
Wheelchair athlete combination: Ergonomics of Sports Wheelchair Performance
Power Output
Physiological Demand
Propulsion Technique
Force Application
Muscular Activity
User Perceptions
Marginal Gains
No stone is left unturned in pursuit of excellence and the approach is to use an evidence-base scientific approach, with best practice and know-how shared across other main-stream sports (if relevant) and Paralympic programmes
These margins are finer and finer as athletes get faster and stronger
Process of design
Significant developments over time
– Wheelchair configuration and design changes to better suit the athlete based on the sports
Examination
seeing about equipment
Trial and error, subjective perception
Done during tournaments to allow for more data to be collected
– Working towards evidence based research
Some Athletes keep tweaking the settings until it feels perfect
Some may add straps for their legs or add a rest for their slightly functional leg
Extremly expensive
Bucket seat to allow for quick rotations
Chairs which are narrow for easy turns
Some never tweak their chairs which lead to it wearing down overtime and decrease performance
Field Measurement opportunites: Innovative technologies
Potential method that can help monitor performance
Field Measurement opportunites: GPS Systems
Provides info about distances covered, speeds, HR zones and time spent at the mentioned points
Field Measurement opportunites: Indoor tracking systems
measurement that track movements within the wheelchairs
Field Measurement opportunites: Data loggers
devices that log data within the wheelchairs
Inertial measurement Units
has a gyroscope and an accelerometer to show data of wheelchair movement
Inertial measurement Units: Pros and Cons
Advantages
– Small
– Lightweighted
– Easily attached
– No disruption athletes
- Disadvantages
– No power measurements
Wheelchair Field testings used
20m Sprint tests, Spider test, butterfly-sprint test and Illinois Test
