Training Practices of Elite Wheelchair Roadracers

Abstract

This project assessed training behaviors and attributes of elite wheelchair racers. Training information was received from 36 participants in the 1985 National 10K Wheelchair Roadracing Championship. Data were obtained about age, weight, nature and level of disability, racing experience, sources of training information, level of cigarette and alcohol use, and dietary habits. Weekly training behaviors across yearly quarters were assessed with regard to the number of weekly pushing workouts, length of pushing workouts, number of miles pushed per week, percentage of training time allocated to interval training and/or speedwork, number of weekly weight-training sessions, and number of other augmentative physical activities pursued twice or more per week. Perceived exertion during interval and noninterval, steady-state training tasks was also measured. Results revealed that training behaviors of elite wheelchair racers are very heterogeneous. Participation in and age of introduction to elite wheelchair racing were found to be predominantly adult phenomena. The health practices of the athletes regarding cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, and weight control were generally found to be good. However, inadequate caloric control measures by the quadriplegics and the ingestion of protein supplements by male racers indicate that some dietary counseling may be needed. The results provide a starting point for a data base pertaining to training behaviors in wheelchair racing.

Aerobic power of competitive paraplegic road racers

“…Indeed, training practices of the SCI athletes in the present study (Table II) are similar to those previously reported for other elite wheel chair-dependent road racers. 1 The male SCI road racers elicited a significantly higher (by 18% ) peak V02 than the male able bodied group during maximal effort ACE exercise. It has been previously demonstrated that arm volume and arm strength contribute to ACE peak PO achieved by able bodied subjects.…”

A personal development model of sport psychology for athletes with disabilities

“…Liow and Hopkins (1996) reported that many elite athletes with disabilities trained in ways that were not sport specific and they tapered poorly. Research by Watanabe et al (1992), finding some athletes overtrained on recovery days, and by Hedrick, Morse, and Figoni (1988), indicating athletes trained inconsistently, also suggests that athletes would benefit from improved coaching. Athletes have also reported a lack of availability of training material specific to their sport (Williams & Taylor, 1994).…”

Disability Sport Socialization and Identity Construction

“…The study by Zoerink (1992) is the only one, however, that focuses specifically on the differential socialization of these two groups. Despite this limited attention, though, the adult socialization patterns reported among individuals with spinal cord injuries or amputations by Kennedy (1980), Hopper (1982, and Hedrick et al (1988) are manifestly different from the childhood and adolescent patterns of those with cerebral palsy reported by Shemll, Rainbolt, Montelione, and Pope (1986) or those with hearing impairments reported by Stewart et al (1988Stewart et al ( , 1991.…”

“…This is further supported by two studies that did not study an impairment group but rather elite athletes who participate in wheelchair sports. Hedrick, Morse, and Figoni (1988) examined the training practices of wheelchair racers and sources from which they obtained relevant information; the authors found "other athletes" and "magazines" to be the primary sources. Parents and teachers made no contribution, and this was corroborated in a replication of Hedrick et al's (1988) study undertaken by Watanabe, Cooper, Vosse, Baldini, and Robertson (1992).…”

“…Dickinson and Perkins (1985) noted that female blind and wheelchair athletes were more influenced by their mothers than were males, who were more influenced by other athletes. In many studies females were underrepresented (e.g., Hedrick et al, 1988;Hopper, 1982) but this may have been for epidemiological reasons rather than because of differential socialization. However, only in Dickinson and Perkins's (1985) study do we find any explanation that attempts to relate the differences to gender socialization.…”