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Abstract: Identifying performance variables associated with visual impairment classification in para-cycling is one of the steps to improve the evidence-based classification system, and consequently, bring equality in Paralympic sports. Thus, this retrospective study aimed to analyze a 1-km tandem-track race performance among para-cyclists (male and female) with different visual impairment degrees (B1, B2, and B3) and to verify the retrospective performance over 20 yrs in all sport classes. The data were extracted from 427 para-cyclists (251 male and 176 female) who competed in the Para-Cycling World Championships and Paralympic Games. The following performance variables were analyzed: time trial, velocity, pace strategies, and number of medals. A one-way analysis of variance was used to compare performance variables among athletes of different sport classes (B1, B2, and B3) and χ2 tests were implemented to test the association between sport classes and medal distribution with a level of significance set at a P value of less than 0.05. The main results revealed that partially sighted athletes exhibited better tandem-track race performance compared with blind athletes (P < 0.05). Significant associations between sport classes and medal distribution in male (P = 0.026) and female (P = 0.017) athletes were found (higher in B3 athletes). Only 23.2% of male and 41.5% of female B3 athletes were medalists, and B3 athletes performed better specifically compared with B1 in most race distances. Finally, B2 and B3 athletes showed higher performance improvements than B1 throughout 20 yrs in the male group. It was concluded that male and female visual impairment athletes who classified as B1 displayed lower tandem-track race performance and medal frequency compared with partially sighted athletes, mainly considering those in the B3 class. The competitive system for athletes with visual impairment should be improved to provide more equity in the track para-cycling events., Competing Interests: Financial disclosure statements have been obtained, and no conflicts of interest have been reported by the authors or by any individuals in control of the content of this article., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

In Paralympic judo for athletes with vision impairment (VI judo) all eligible athletes (i.e. B1, B2 and B3 classes) compete against each other in the same competition. Evidence suggests that athletes with more impairment may be disadvantaged, but that more sensitive measures of performance are necessary to understand the impact of impairment on performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between Para sport class and technical variation, time-motion variables, and performance in Paralympic judo. All 175 judo matches from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games were analysed across 129 competitors (82 male and 47 female). The main results indicated that athletes who demonstrated less technical variation also experienced less competitive success, with the functionally blind athletes (class B1) demonstrating less technical variation than partially sighted (class B2 and B3) athletes (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the time-motion variables between sport classes (p > 0.05). We conclude that measures of technical variation are sensitive to differences in impairment and are suitable for studies that investigate the impairment-performance relationship in VI judo. Results further confirm that some athletes with impairment are disadvantaged under the current rules of VI judo.

Match-related performance analysis in judo Para athletes with visual impairments is important to coaches and staff to identify technical–tactical profiles of their athletes and opponents but also to identify whether there are similar characteristics in each visual class. Thus, this study explores the match-related performance in judo Para athletes and verifies the relationship between performance using the old and new classification systems. The match-derived variables were analyzed using different statistical methods considering a total of 182 matches from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. The results indicated that performance was affected by sex and degree of impairment. The new classification system seems suitable for grouping Para judo athletes, as it differentiates performance between the two proposed classes (J1 and J2), since athletes from each group compete separately. Furthermore, different variability index measures were correlated with competitive performance, demonstrating a specific performance profile for each sport class in judo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The participation of judo athletes with disabilities in competitions has increased over the years as well as the burden of sports-related injuries and illnesses in this population. However, there is limited knowledge about sports-related injuries in judo athletes with different disabilities. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of injuries in judo athletes with disabilities, considering the different impairment groups, magnitude of injury (ie, mechanism, nature, and severity of injury), and specific body parts. Design: Cross-sectional study (level of evidence, 3). Setting: Brazilian Judo athletes with disabilities. Patients: Fifty-one judo athletes with disabilities (15 men and 36 women) participated in this study. Main Outcome Measures: Data were obtained from an adapted injury report form. The prevalence of injuries was assessed, considering type of impairment, body parts, mechanisms, and severity as well as differences between male and female athletes, with the significance level set at P < .05. Results: The results demonstrated a high prevalence of injuries in female athletes with visual impairment (n = 11, 73.3%) and male athletes with amputations (n = 14, 38.8%). A high prevalence was found in the national group, especially for male athletes (n = 29, 80.5%). Among athletes who had injuries, 69.4% (n = 12) of male and 80.0% (n = 25) of female athletes' injuries occurred due to direct contact with other athletes, and 72.2% (n = 26) of male and 86.6% (n = 13) of female athletes' injuries were in the training environment. The magnitude of injuries ranged from moderate to severe for male and female athletes. The knee (n = 25, 49.0%) and shoulder (n = 12, 23.5%) were the body parts most affected by injuries in both male and female athletes. Conclusion: A large percentage of judo athletes with disabilities reported experiencing an injury during the previous 2 years; percentages were greater in athletes with visual and physical impairment. Moreover, most injuries occurred in the knee or shoulder, during training, and in direct contact with other athletes and were of severe magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to analyze the ranking scores in Paralympic judo athletes in different visual impairment classifications (B1, B2, and B3) and describe the frequency of athletes of each classification allocated in the first five and last five positions in the ranking list. A total of 488 judo athletes with visual impairment (332 male and 156 female) took part in this study. Data were extracted from the Official Ranking List, documented and organized by the International Blind Sports Federation, and analyzed according to sport classes (B1, B2, and B3) and weight categories. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the scores among different groups. The main results showed that B1 athletes presented lower total and best scores compared to B2 and B3 counterparts in both female (p =.020, p <.001, respectively) and male groups (p =.010, p =.005, respectively). In addition, when analyzing the ranking list position, there was a higher percentage of B1 athletes in the last five positions in female (60%) and male groups (60%) than B2 and B3 athletes. Investigations about classification and competitive system can assist coaches and sports organizations to identify the appropriateness of the ranking system scores adopted for athletes with visual impairment. Our findings showed some issues when considering competitive programming that includes all visual impairment classes in the same category. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare time-trial performances in elite paratriathlon athletes, according to visual classes, sex, and medal distribution. Design: The data were acquired from official books on Para Triathlon World Cups (2018–2020). The sample included 150 athletes with visual impairment, in classes: PTVI1, PTVI2, and PTVI3. One-way analysis of variance, the Student t test, and χ2 were used to compare the performance variables and association between visual impairment classes and distribution of medals within different visual impairment classes. Results: Sex comparisons demonstrated better performance for male athletes compared with female athletes (P < 0.05). In the sex-specific analysis, only cycling velocity was higher for female, being lower for PTVI1 compared with PTVI3 (P = 0.012). In visual impairment class results, the first transition time was higher for PTVI1 compared with PTVI2 (P = 0.050) and PTVI3 (P = 0.027) and, in the second transition, higher for PTVI1 compared with PTVI2 (P = 0.001). The χ2 test showed a higher percentage of gold medals for PTVI3 athletes considering the whole group (P = 0.050). Conclusions: These results indicate that male athletes have better performance than female athletes. PTVI1 female athletes showed lower cycling velocity compared with PTVI3. Considering both male and female groups, blind athletes presented higher transition times and a lower percentage of medals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim in this study was to compare performance adaptations based on tactile or sonorous stimuli in para-judo athletes with congenital or acquired visual impairment. Twenty judo athletes with a type of visual impairment performed both the adapted Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) with tactile and sonorous stimuli and the standard SJFT. We used two-way ANOVA with repeated measurements in the second factor to compare the SJFT performance of athletes with visual impairment between two groups (acquired or congenital) in the two test situations, with the level of significance set at p <.05. Both groups of participants performed better on the adapted SJFT with tactile and sonorous stimuli compared to the standard condition on number of throws (p =.029 and p <.001) and showed lower final and post 1-minute heart rates (HR) (p <.05). There were no group differences in performance on any SJFT adaptations (p >.05). Thus, both SJFT adaptations (tactile and sonorous stimuli) enhanced the judo-specific performance of athletes with both acquired and congenital visual impairments. However, athletes with either origin of impairment showed a better HR in the adaptive tactile stimuli testing compared to the standard SJFT testing condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In judo competition for visual impairment, athletes of different classes compete against each other in the same category; B1 athletes are totally blind, whereas B2 and B3 athletes are partially sighted. To test for potential competition disparities due a single category of athletes, this study aimed to compare competitive and technical–tactical performance in visually impaired judo athletes with different degrees of visual impairment. The authors analyzed 340 judo matches from the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. The scores, penalties, efficiency index, and types of medals were examined, as well as the technical variation and temporal structure. The main finding was that blind judo athletes presented lower scores (p <.05; effect size [ES] = 0.43–0.73), medals (p <.05), and efficiency (p <.05; ES = 0.40–0.73); different patterns of play; and a shorter time to lose than partially sighted athletes (p =.027; ES = 0.10–0.14). However, the penalties were similar between classes (p >.05; ES = 0.07–0.14). The odds ratio of a winning medal was 3.5–8 times less in blind athletes than in partially sighted athletes (p <.01). In conclusion, blind judo athletes presented lower competitive and technical–tactical performance than athletes with some residual functional vision. These findings provide support for the development of new evidence-based criteria for judo classification based on vision impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, magnitude, and methods of rapid weight loss (RWL) in visually impaired (VI) judo athletes, and compare these aspects between males and females. Thirty VI judo athletes (20 men and 10 women) completed a validated questionnaire to assess information about the magnitude and methods of RWL. Simple frequency was used to describe the influence and methods in all athletes and according to sex. Moreover, the t test was used to compare the variables between the sexes with the significance level set at p <.05. The main results showed that most VI judo athletes (67%) lost weight to compete. Most methods included gradual dieting (40%) and increased exercise volume (33%). The judo coach/ sensei was the person who most influenced the athletes in RWL (45%). There were no significant differences between the sexes regarding the RWL magnitude and methods used. As concluded, most VI judo athletes lost weight to compete, but the interval to reduce weight seemed slightly longer than it usually occurs in RWL. Gradual dieting and increased exercise volume were the most frequently used methods to lose weight, without any differences between males and females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to test the reliability, sensitivity, construct and logical validity of an adapted Special Judo Fitness Test (SJFT) for judo athletes with visual impairment. Twenty judo athletes with visual impairments performed both the adapted SJFT with tactile and sonorous stimuli (experimental conditions) and the typically administered SJFT (standard condition). We used analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with repeated-measures to compare the groups' SJFT performances, and one-way ANOVAs to compare different visual ability classes of athletes (B1, B2 and B3). We used t-tests to compare SJFT variables between elite and sub-elite groups. We set statistical significance for all tests at p < 0.05. The standard SJFT showed excellent test-retest reliability for number of throws and overall index (ICC = 0.91–0.95), and both sonorous and tactile sensitivity adaptations of the SJFT showed medium sensitivity for detecting performance changes. The number of throws and SJFT index were higher with the sonorous adaptation of the test, compared to the tactile and standard versions (p < 0.001). Athletes who were blind (B1) presented similar performances to athletes who were partially sighted (B2 and B3) only on the SJFT with the sonorous stimulus. Moreover, only the sonorous SJFT adaptation discriminated between the performances of elite and sub-elite athletes (p < 0.001). In conclusion, both SJFT adaptations showed excellent reliability and medium sensitivity on test-retest, but, only the SJFT with the sonorous stimulus seemed valid for assessing judo athletes with varying degrees of visual impairment, and only the sonorous stimulus SJFT discriminated elite from sub-elite athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For judo athletes with visual impairments and their coaches, understanding possible muscle adaptations can be challenging. As it is commonplace for these adaptations to include interlimb asymmetry, we analyzed the magnitude and direction of interlimb asymmetry in judo athletes with visual impairments and verified the association of this asymmetry with their unilateral physical performances. Participants were 18 elite judo athletes (10 male, 8 female) with visual impairments. These athletes performed three physical tests: countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw (MBT), and handgrip strength (HGS), while we conducted unilateral right and left side assessments using the interlimb asymmetry equation for each physical test. Our main results showed that the CMJ and MBT tests presented asymmetry values above 10%; with CMJ significantly higher than HGS (p = 0.050), and with inconsistencies across the three tests in the direction of interlimb asymmetry (k = −0.22–0.26). Unilateral CMJ (left limb) was negatively correlated with asymmetry (r = −0.51; p = 0.031), and unilateral MBT (right limb) was positively correlated with asymmetry (r = 0.52; p = 0.024). Based on these results, coaches should prioritize regular assessments of interlimb asymmetry using these specific tests. This data can guide the construction of training programs aimed at minimizing asymmetry and enhancing overall physical performance. Continuous monitoring and adjustment of training strategies based on asymmetry findings are crucial for optimizing muscle balance in judo athletes with visual impairments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]