Composición corporal, fuerza prensil y antecedentes de lesiones de miembros superiores en deportistas paralímpicos formativos

Background and aim

Paralympic sport is currently considered high performance, so it has been proposed to find factors that contribute to sports performance and injury prevention. People with physical disabilities suffer a loss of muscle mass and excess weight, thus intensifying the existence of health problems, such as musculoskeletal injuries due to the characteristics of sport and daily life activities. The aim of the study is to identify the anthropometric characteristics, handgrip strength and injury history of upper limb in Paralympic athletes of initiation.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in 30 Paralympic athletes in the initiation process of Wheelchair Basketball, Wheelchair Tennis, Para Swimming and Para-Powerlifting between 18 and 60 years of age with physical disability. They were assessed with dynamometry and subcutaneous folds.

Results

The body mass index of women exceeded that of men by 5.3 kg/m2, being a state of overweight. The fat mass index of women was higher than that of men by 2.9 kg/m2. In men, a statistically significant difference was found between athletes with and without history of injury in weight (p = 0.01), fat free mass (0.00 +) and right upper limb strength (p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Athletes with history of injury presented high values in body composition, which could interfere in their progression process to high performance sport. Female Paralympic athletes have a higher body fat index.