Physical Fitness and Inflammatory Response to the Training Load of Wheelchair Rugby Players

Abstract

The aim of the study was the evaluation of the hormonal response of wheelchair rugby participants under the half-year training cycle. The study sample included 11 members of the Polish national wheelchair rugby team with spinal cord injury at the cervical level, ranging in age from 21 to 41 years, body weight (72.2 ± 11.53 kg), and body height (182.3 ± 6.11 cm). The disabled individuals with spinal cord injury subjected to the study constitute a homogeneous group in terms of age, body height, weight, and injury level. The study was carried out at the beginning and at the end of a 6-month training period. In the first and second examination, measurements of the peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2) and blood biochemical analysis were performed (Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and concentration of creatinine (Cr), total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), and cortisol (C)). A significant change was observed in the concentration of C in the Wheelchair Rugby players’ blood between two research periods (p < 0.05 (ES:0.76)) and a correlation between the post-training change in FT/C concentration and the change in Cr concentration (r = −0.6014, p < 0.05). The 6-month training period did not result in overloads within the group of players. However, due to the significant loss of the capacity of the spinal cord injury (SCI) and the possibility of a life-threatening trend, the anabolic/catabolic status of the players should be monitored using blood biochemical indices.

Age-Related Trajectory and Age at Peak Competitive Performance in Wheelchair Rugby Players at the Paralympic Games

“…Despite the growing number of individuals with other impairments, WR remains predominantly dominated by athletes with cervical-level spinal cord injuries (tetraplegia). 16 This type of injury has primarily of traumatic origin, meaning it is acquired. 17 A recent study assessing various Paralympic sports found that the mean age for athletes with acquired impairments to transition to the elite phase was 36.8 (7.9) yrs; in contrast, it was 29.3 (6.1) yrs for athletes with congenital impairments.…”

“…The consistency in age across this sport may be attributed to a significant characteristic of WR players: the acquired condition of their impairment. Despite the growing number of individuals with other impairments, WR remains predominantly dominated by athletes with cervical-level spinal cord injuries (tetraplegia) 16 . This type of injury has primarily of traumatic origin, meaning it is acquired 17 .…”

Exercise and aerobic capacity in individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression

“…Six studies (n = 354 participants) included observational longitudinal data and assessed changes in CRF outcomes following either standard of care inpatient rehabilitation [99][100][101] or a period of community free-living [99,102,103]. While 1 study described a training programme for elite-level wheelchair rugby players, it could not be determined whether players adhered to the prespecified training programme throughout the season, and therefore, the study was categorised as a community free-living observational study in this review [104]. The duration between assessments for standard of care varied, ranging from 5 to 28 weeks, whereas the follow-up period for community observations ranged from 30 weeks to 2.9 years.…”