Technology Supporting the Para-athletes

Allows athlewtes to bring their own wheel chairs Analyses the movement and power created during matches and training

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

Physical Aerobic fitness, strength, power etc. Impairment Level of SCl etc. Skill

Seat position, camber, wheel size etc. Vehicle mechanics Rolling resistance, air resistance, internal friction etc. Design Materials etc

Power Output Physiological Demand Propulsion Technique Force Application Muscular Activity User Perceptions

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

Significant developments over time – Wheelchair configuration and design changes to better suit the athlete based on the sports

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

Potential method that can help monitor performance

Provides info about distances covered, speeds, HR zones and time spent at the mentioned points

measurement that track movements within the wheelchairs

devices that log data within the wheelchairs

has a gyroscope and an accelerometer to show data of wheelchair movement

Advantages – Small – Lightweighted – Easily attached – No disruption athletes • Disadvantages – No power measurements

20m Sprint tests, Spider test, butterfly-sprint test and Illinois Test

• Track wheelchair athletes on the field • More in-depth analysis – Velocities/accelerations – Rotational aspects • Force/Power measurements lacking

Advantages - Power measurement - Push by push analysis Disadvantages - Bulky and heavy - Not easily attached

Treadmill - Synchronous propulsion - Trunk movement involved Wheelchair ergometer - Own wheelchair - Left/right differences

Force/Power production More detailed push characteristics Tracking individuals or a group Extend with 3D position registration or spirometer data