The Routledge Handbook of Disability Sport Science

Disability sport science is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field, with advancements occurring across a wide range of research areas. However, the unique needs of athletes with disabilities - and the theoretical and practical knowledge required to support them - are still underrepresented in the literature. The book covers current research in a wide range of sport, exercise, training and health-related topic areas related to disability sport science and identifies future research directions. Key knowledge is gleaned from research within sport, exercise, rehabilitation and medicine and is brought together in one single resource, covering both current and future relevance for researchers, students and practitioners alike. The Routledge Handbook of Disability Sport Science is the first book to offer a comprehensive and in-depth review of current and emerging topics within disability sport science and provides a complete overview of academic and professional knowledge, divided into six sections covering the following topics: - Physiology - Biomechanics - Technology - Nutrition - Physical Preparation, Health and Classification - Psychology Written by an international team of leading experts from academia and professional practice, the book is an essential reference for researchers, academics and students of disability sport science and related disciplines alike, as well as anyone working, or wanting to work, in disability sport.

Katy Griggs is a Principal Lecturer in Sport Engineering and Exercise Physiology in the Department of Engineering at Nottingham Trent University, UK. She has expertise in the areas of Paralympic/disability sport, human performance and environmental physiology and has studied the thermoregulatory responses of athletes with a spinal cord injury. Her research focuses on the physiological and ergonomic impact of technology, clothing and equipment on human performance. Ursina Arnet is a senior researcher in Human Movement Sciences and head of the Neuro-Musculoskeletal Functioning and Mobility group at Swiss Paraplegic Research, Switzerland. She has been involved in several research programs with the focus on improving the functioning and mobility of persons with SCI in a daily life setting. Her areas of expertise are shoulder biomechanics, sensor-based evaluation of daily life behaviour (wheelchair mobility, pressure relief performance) and lab-based evaluation of wheelchair and handcycle propulsion. Rienk van der Slikke is a researcher specialising in wheelchair sports performance and wearable sensor technology. He is affiliated with The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands and TU Delft, Netherlands and holds a fellowship at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University, UK. His work includes the development of methods for measuring wheelchair mobility performance during field sports and exploring the relationship between impairments and athletic performance. That expertise and the developed methodologies are used to enhance the daily mobility and self-reliance of wheelchair users, bridging the gap between sports performance and everyday wheelchair use. Joelle Leonie Flueck, PhD, serves as the President of the Swiss Sports Nutrition Society and is a researcher and sports nutritionist based in Switzerland. With over a decade of dedicated research in sports nutrition for Paralympic athletes, she has contributed work on optimising performance and health for athletes with spinal cord injuries. As a trusted counsellor to some of the world's top Paralympic and Olympic athletes, she combines scientific rigor with practical expertise to deliver evidence-based solutions tailored to individual needs.

Section 1: Physiology Introduction to the section 1. Cardiorespiratory Responses of Individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury to Exercise 2. Inflammatory and Immune Responses to Exercise and Related Health Interventions 3. Thermoregulation in Para Sports 4. Physiological Exercise Testing and Prescription 5. Monitoring Training Load in Adapted Sports 6. Respiratory Muscle Training for Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury 7. Sporting Example: Physiological Responses during Handcycling Section 2: Biomechanics Introduction to the section 8. Prosthetic developments in Sport; Biomechanics of Running-specific Prosthesis 9. Long Jump with a Below-the-knee Prosthesis 10. Wheelchair Racing Biomechanics and Performance Considerations 11. Wheelchair Tennis Biomechanics 12. Biomechanical Aspects of Handcycling Propulsion 13. Shoulder Health in Wheelchair Sports Section 3: Technology Introduction to the section 14: The Ethics of Technology in Adapted Sports 15. Wearable Technology in Adaptive Sports, the Key to Putting Science into Sports Practice 16. Measuring Wheelchair Propulsion in the Lab, A Hand Rim Wheelchair Ergometer 17. Instrumented Wheels for Measuring 3D Pushrim Kinetics of a Racing Wheelchair 18. Instrumented Running Prosthetic Feet for the Collection of Loads on Track 19. Sport Prostheses for Persons with Lower Limb Amputation: From First Fitting to Prosthetic Component Selection 20. Historical Amnesia in the Technological Development of Manual Sports Wheelchair Equipment 21. Wheelchair Configuration in Field Sports 22. Sensor Technology in Training and Performance Analyses of Para-Nordic Skiers Section 4: Nutrition Introduction to the section 23. Energy Expenditure at Rest and During Exercise 24. Body Composition in Athletes with Physical Impairments 25. Macronutrient and Micronutrient Intakes and Recommendations 26. Hydration Monitoring and Management in Para Sport 27. Navigating Supplement Use in Para Sport 28. Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) and Disordered Eating Section 5: Physical Preparation, Health and Classification Introduction to the section 29. Classification Process in Parasports 30. Preparation and Competing in Hot and Cold Environments 31. Travel recommendations for Para Athletes 32. Injuries, Illnesses and Athlete Health in Para Athletes 33. Autonomic Dysreflexia and Boosting in Paralympic Athletes 34. Developing Quality Coaching in Disability Sport Section 6: Psychology Introduction to the section 35. Use of Psychological Skills Training 36. Challenges and Stresses Experienced by Paralympic Athletes and Coaches 37. Parasport Mental Health 38. Athletic Identity in Para-sport: Development to Retirement 39. Talent Development in Paralympic Athletes