Loneliness and Coping Styles Among Athletes With Disabilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The study aimed to assess loneliness experiences among athletes with disabilities (AWD) during the different phases of the pandemic and to understand its relationship with coping styles. Ninety-one AWD participated in a longitudinal study spanning 10 months, covering three time points: April (A), June (Time B), and November (Time C) 2021. The study used the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations and the revised University of California Los Angeles Loneliness Scale-Revised (UCLA-R) to measure coping mechanisms and feelings of loneliness, respectively. Loneliness levels peaked during the most intense phase of the pandemic, showing significant differences between consecutive time points (χ2 = 20.29, p < 0.001, d = 0.24). The most robust regression models were built in Time B, using the "intimate contacts" dimension of loneliness as the dependent variable and "emotion-oriented coping", "avoidance-oriented coping", and "impairment" as independent variables, explaining 44% of the variance (p < 0.001). Loneliness among Paralympic athletes fluctuated during various phases of the pandemic. The findings highlight the significant influence of coping styles, particularly emotional styles which heightened perceived loneliness, and task-oriented styles which reduced it, on athletes' experiences of loneliness. These results underscore the need for longitudinal studies to delve deeper into the relationship between loneliness and mental health. Moreover, they stress the importance of developing tailored interventions that promote effective coping mechanisms in AWD during challenging times amid to COIVID-19.

[Slipped vertebrae (Spondylolysis): the underestimated weak point of the (pre)professional football player-an algorithm]. / Der Gleitwirbel: unterschätzte Schwachstelle des (prä)professionellen Fußballspielers ­ ein Algorithmus.

BACKGROUND: Isthmic spondylolysis represents the most common cause of spinal pain in adolescent athletes. This article provides an overview of the classification, diagnosis, and treatment options for these conditions, including conservative and operative measures. It also provides a treatment pathway to how young athletes with spondylolysis should be treated. DIAGNOSTICS: Diagnostic imaging techniques are essential for an accurate diagnosis, with CT scans providing additional information for surgical planning. TREATMENT: Conservative treatment focuses on activity modification and physiotherapy, with a phased approach tailored to individual patient needs. Operative intervention may be considered if conservative measures fail, with minimally invasive techniques such as Buck's screw fixation showing promising results. The decision between conservative and operative management should consider factors of the patients' individual profile. In this paper, we present the first treatment algorithm for the treatment of isthmic spondylolysis. Long-term prognosis varies, with most athletes able to return to sport following treatment.

Cardiovascular Risk Profile in Master Paralympic Athletes, a High-Risk Undertreated Population: A Cross-Sectional Longitudinal Study.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, European Society of Cardiology (ESC) validated a prediction model to estimate 10-year fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular disease risk (CVDR) in individuals (aged 40-60 years) without previous cardiovascular disease or diabetes (ESC-SCORE2) and to provide indications for treatment. At present, data describing the CVDR in Paralympic athletes (PAs) are scarce and inconsistent. Therefore, we sought to assess the prevalence of risk factors in PAs to estimate their CVDR through SCORE2. METHODS: We enrolled 99 PAs aged ≥ 40 y.o., who participated at 2012-2022 Paralympic Games, competing in 22 different sport disciplines classified according to sport type (power, skills, endurance and mixed) and disabilities: spinal cord injuries (SCI) and non-SCI. CVDR factors, anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected. RESULTS: Among the 99 PAs (78% males, mean age 45.7 ± 4.7 y.o.), 52.5% had SCI; 54% were dyslipidemic and 23% were smokers. According to ESC-SCORE2, 29% had high and 1% very-high CVDR. Women (compared to men) and endurance (compared to other sport) exhibited better CV profile. SCI showed no differences when compared with non-SCI for CVDR, excepted for a lower HDL and lower exercise performance. None of the dyslipidemic athlete was on pharmacologically treatment, despite the altered lipid profile had already been detected at younger age. CONCLUSION: PAs are a selected population, presenting a high CV risk profile, with 30% showing either high or very-high CVDR according to ESC-SCORE2. Dyslipidemia was the most common risk factor, underestimated and undertreated, emphasizing the need for specific preventive strategies in this special setting of athletes.

Effect of a Neuromodulation Protocol Associated With Sports Training on the Precision Sports Performance of a Wheelchair Basketball Para-Athlete: A Case Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) optimizes the performance of a wheelchair basketball player on precision tasks. METHODS: A right-handed wheelchair basketball player (1.5 points functional class) with myelomeningocele (low lumbar level) participated in this case study. The tDCS neuromodulation protocol was applied throughout 10 interventions of 20 minutes with a current intensity of 2 mA, simultaneously with sport-specific training, 3 times a week for 4 weeks. Anodic stimulation was performed on the right cerebellar hemisphere (CB2) and cathodic stimulation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. A control participant was submitted to a sham-tDCS stimulation protocol for the same period. Functional performance was assessed before the intervention and after the 5th and 10th interventions using "pass accuracy," "free-throw shooting," and "spot shot" tests. Outcome measures were compared using percentage differences between preintervention, intermediate intervention, and postintervention values. RESULTS: There was a gradual increase in the athlete's total and average scores in all tests performed, with an overall improvement of 78% between the baseline and final assessments, while the control participant had an overall improvement of 6.5%. CONCLUSION: The tDCS protocol was effective in improving performance in precision activities in a wheelchair basketball player.

Evaluation of the SCAT 5 tool in the assessment of concussion in Para athletes: a Delphi study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the sport concussion assessment tool version 5 (SCAT5) could be suitable for application to Para athletes with a visual impairment, a spinal cord injury, or a limb deficiency. METHODS: A 16-member expert panel performed a Delphi technique protocol. The first round encompassed an open-ended questionnaire, with round 2 onwards being composed of a series of closed-ended statements requiring each expert's opinion using a five-point Likert scale. A predetermined threshold of 66% was used to decide whether agreement had been reached by the panel. RESULTS: The Delphi study resulted in a four-round process. After round 1, 92 initial statements were constructed with 91 statements obtaining the targeted level of agreement by round 4. The expert panellist completion rate of the full four-round process was 94%. In the case of athletes with a suspected concussion with either limb deficiencies or spinal cord injuries, the panel agreed that a baseline assessment would be needed on record is ideal before a modified SCAT5 assessment. With respect to visual impairments, it was conceded that some tests were either difficult, infeasible or should be omitted entirely depending on the type of visual impairment. CONCLUSION: It is proposed that the SCAT5 could be conducted on athletes with limb deficiencies or spinal cord injuries with some minor modifications and by establishing a baseline assessment to form a comparison. However, it cannot be recommended for athletes with visual impairment in its current form. Further research is needed to determine how potential concussions could be more effectively evaluated in athletes with different impairments.

Influence of the Type of Disability and Sporting Discipline on Lipid Profile in a Cohort of Italian Paralympic Athletes.

Dyslipidemia is the most frequent cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in able-bodied athletes and is frequently undertreated, resulting in an underestimated risk of atherosclerosis-related diseases. Data on lipid profile in Paralympic athletes are lacking. Our study aimed to identify the prevalence of dyslipidemia and the influence of disability type and sporting discipline in Paralympic athletes. We evaluated 289 athletes who participated in the Paralympic Games from London 2012 to Beijing 2022. All athletes underwent clinical/physical evaluation, blood tests, and body composition analysis. They were divided into different groups based on sports disciplines and disability type (spinal cord injuries [SCIs] and non-SCIs [NSCIs]). Among the Paralympic athletes, 34.6% had a low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level ≥115 mg/100 ml. They were older (38.1 ± 9.2 vs 30.6 ± 9.6, p = 0.001) and had a higher CV risk. Athletes with SCI showed similar total cholesterol and triglycerides, higher LDL (110.9 ± 35.2 vs 102.7 ± 30.6 mg/100 ml, p = 0.03) and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (53.6 ± 13.6 vs 60.5 ± 15.4 mg/100 ml, p = 0.001) than those with NSCI. Endurance athletes had lower LDL, the highest HDL, and the lowest triglycerides and LDL/HDL ratio compared with other sports disciplines. A mean follow-up of 61.5 ± 30.5 months was available in 47% athletes, and 72.7% of the athletes with dyslipidemia continued to present altered LDL values at follow-up. In conclusion, dyslipidemia is the most common CV risk factor in the Paralympics, affecting 35% of athletes, with only mild lipid changes over a medium-term time. The type of disability and sporting discipline has an impact on lipids, improving HDL and reducing LDL, with a better profile observed in NSCI and endurance athletes.

More than metrics: The role of socio-environmental factors in determining the success of athlete monitoring.

The perceived value of athlete monitoring systems (AMS) has recently been questioned. Poor perceptions of AMS are important, because where practitioners lack confidence in monitoring their ability to influence programming, and performance is likely diminished. To address this, researchers have primarily sought to improve factors related to monitoring metrics, e.g., validity rather than socio-environmental factors, e.g., buy-in. Seventy-five practitioners (response rate: n = 30) working with Olympic and Paralympic athletes were invited to take part in a survey about their perceptions of AMS value. Fifty-two per cent (n = 13) was confident in the sensitivity of their athlete self-report measures, but only 64% (n = 16), indicated their monitoring was underpinned by scientific evidence. A scientific base was associated with improved athlete feedback (rS (23) = 0.487, p =0.014*) and feedback correlated with athlete monitoring adherence (rS (22) = 0.675, p = <0.001**). If athletes did not complete their monitoring, 52% (n = 13) of respondents felt performance might be compromised. However, most respondents 56% (n = 14), had worked with internationally successful athlete(s) who did not complete their monitoring. While AMS can be a useful tool to aid performance optimisation, its potential value is not always realised. Addressing socio-environmental factors alongside metric-factors may improve AMS efficacy.

Race and geography impact validity of maximum allowable standing height equations for para-athletes.

World Athletics use maximum allowable standing height (MASH) equations for para-athletes with bilateral lower extremity amputations to estimate stature and limit prosthesis length since longer prostheses can provide running performance advantages. The equations were developed using a white Spanish population; however, validation for other races and geographical groups is limited. This study aimed to determine the validity of the MASH equations for Black and white Americans and whether bias errors between calculated and measured stature were similar between these populations. Sitting height, thigh length, upper arm length, forearm length, and arm span of 1899 male and 1127 female Black and white Americans from the Anthropometric Survey of US Army Personnel database were input into the 6 sex-specific MASH equations to enable comparisons of calculated and measured statures within and between Black and white groups. Two of 12 MASH equations validly calculated stature for Black Americans and 3 of 12 equations were valid for white Americans. Bias errors indicated greater underestimation or lesser overestimation of calculated statures in 10 equations for Black compared to white Americans and in 2 equations for white compared to Black Americans. This study illustrates that race and geography impact the validity of MASH equations.

Wearable electronic devices in parasports: A focused review on para athlete classification.

Wearable electronic devices are being used to evaluate movement patterns, track workload, prevent injuries, and optimize performance in athletes. Para athletes have unique characteristics to consider separately from the general population. One such difference in competitive parasports includes consideration of athlete classification systems. These sport-specific classification systems consider athletes' eligible medical conditions that lead to permanent physical, visual, and/or intellectual impairments and objectively evaluate the impact of their impairments on sport functions. Para athletes are assigned sport classes and compete with athletes of similar functional levels. This promotes equitable opportunities to compete while minimizing the effect their impairment has on their sport performance. With recent reports of misrepresentation or incorrect and unfair classification providing unfair advantages to some athletes, parasports classification has been controversial. Having an objective, evidence-based, and fair classification system in parasports is critical to maintain the integrity of parasports competition. Wearable electronic devices have potential to provide more objective analysis of movement patterns in para athletes to assist in sport classification. This review identifies and analyzes the available literature on wearable electronic technology and its role in parasports classification. A comprehensive PubMed and Google Scholar search identified six articles included in this review. These studies used inertial sensors, motion capture systems, or surface electromyography in wheelchair basketball, rugby, tennis, sit skiing, and boccia. This review identifies the potential value of wearable electronic devices to assist in parasports classification. Additional studies are needed to create standardized protocols for each sport and sensor type.

Sleep Quality in Team USA Olympic and Paralympic Athletes.

Adequate sleep is crucial for elite athletes' recovery, performance readiness, and immune response. Establishing reference ranges for elite athletes enables appropriate contextualization for designing and targeting sleep interventions. PURPOSE: To establish sleep-quality reference ranges for Olympic and Paralympic cohorts using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and explore differences based on sex and sport types. METHODS: Team USA athletes (men = 805, women = 798) completed the PSQI as part of a health-history questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to create reference ranges and linear models, and χ2 test of independence determined differences in PSQI global and component scores between sex, games, season, and participation. RESULTS: Six hundred thirty-two (39.43%) athletes reported poor sleep (PSQIGlobal ≥ 5). Men displayed later bedtimes (P = .006), better global PSQI scores, shorter sleep latency, less sleep disturbance, and less use of sleep medication than women (all P < .001). Winter Games participants had later bedtime (P = .036) and sleep offset time (P = .028) compared with Summer Games athletes. Team-sport athletes woke earlier than individual-sport athletes (P < .001). Individual-sport athletes were more likely to have low (P = .005) and mild (P = .045) risk for reduced sleep duration than team-sport athletes. CONCLUSION: These data provide PSQI-specific reference ranges to identify groups at greatest risk for poor sleep, who may benefit most from targeted sleep interventions.

Addressing Circadian Disruptions in Visually Impaired Paralympic Athletes.

PURPOSE: Transmeridian travel is common for elite athletes participating in competitions and training. However, this travel can lead to circadian misalignment wherein the internal biological clock becomes desynchronized with the light-dark cycle of the new environment, resulting in performance decrement and potential negative health consequences. Existing literature extensively discusses recommendations for managing jet lag, predominantly emphasizing light-based interventions to synchronize the internal clock with the anticipated time at the destination. Nevertheless, visually impaired (VI) athletes may lack photoreceptiveness, diminishing or nullifying the effectiveness of this therapy. Consequently, this invited commentary explores alternative strategies for addressing jet lag in VI athletes. CONCLUSIONS: VI athletes with light perception but reduced visual acuity or visual fields may still benefit from light interventions in managing jet lag. However, VI athletes lacking a conscious perception of light should rely on gradual shifts in behavioral factors, such as meal timing and exercise, to facilitate the entrainment of circadian rhythms to the destination time. Furthermore, interventions like melatonin supplementation may prove useful during and after travel. In addition, it is recommended that athlete guides adopt phase-forward or phase-back approaches to synchronize with the athlete, aiding in jet-lag management and optimizing performance.

Energy Requirements of Paralympic Athletes: Insights from the Doubly Labeled Water Approach.

PURPOSE: Advanced insight in energy requirements of Paralympic athletes is imperative for optimizing their nutritional counseling. Given the lack of accurate data on total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) of Paralympic athletes, this study aimed to assess energy expenditure and nutritional intake of a large cohort of Paralympic athletes, across different sports and disabilities. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 48 Dutch and Norwegian Paralympic athletes (19 male/29 female) with various disabilities, competing in Para cycling, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, Para Nordic skiing, and alpine skiing participated. TDEE was assessed by the gold standard doubly labeled water method over a 14-d period, resting metabolic rate by ventilated hood indirect calorimetry, energy intake by three unannounced 24-h dietary recalls, body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and exercise training duration by a training log. RESULTS: Mean TDEE was 2908 ± 797 kcal·d -1 , ranging from 2322 ± 340 kcal·d -1 for wheelchair basketball players to 3607 ± 1001 kcal·d -1 for Para cyclists. Regression analysis identified fat-free mass, exercise duration, and the presence of a spinal cord disorder as the primary predictors of TDEE, explaining up to 73% of the variance in TDEE. Athletes' energy intake (2363 ± 905 kcal·d -1 ) was below their TDEE, whereas their body mass remained constant, indicating underreporting. Carbohydrate intake (4.1 ± 1.9 g·kg -1 body mass) was low, even when considering underreporting, whereas protein intake (1.8 ± 0.6 g·kg -1 body mass) was relatively high. CONCLUSIONS: Paralympic athletes display moderate- to high-energy expenditure, varying across sports and individuals. Much of the variation in TDEE can be attributed to individual differences in fat-free mass and exercise duration. This study establishes the benchmarks for energy requirements of Paralympic athletes, serving as the foundation for future dietary guidelines within this population.

Prevalence and incidence of health problems and their characteristics in Brazilian para athletes: A one-season single-center prospective pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Para athletes experience high prevalence and incidence of health problems related to sport. Despite this, there are few longitudinal studies. OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics, prevalence, incidence, and severity of health problems in para athletes from one of the Brazilian Paralympic Reference Centers during a sports season and to compare the prevalence of health problems between para athletics, para powerlifting, and para swimming. METHODS: This prospective pilot study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020. The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire on Health Problems was used to record injuries and illnesses every week for 24 weeks. The characteristics, prevalence, incidence, and severity of health problems were described for each modality. The prevalence of health problems was compared among the three sport modalities. RESULTS: Thirty-five para athletes participated. Most of the injuries occurred in the shoulder, and most illnesses caused respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. The average weekly prevalence and the incidence rate of health problems were 40.6% (95% CI 17.0-64.4) and 12.7 (95% CI 9.6-15.9) per 1000 athlete hours, respectively. Para powerlifting had the highest prevalence of all and substantial health problems; para swimming had the lowest prevalence of injuries; and para athletics had the lowest prevalence of illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: This group of Brazilian para athletes showed a high prevalence and incidence of health problems throughout the season. Para athletics, para powerlifting, and para swimming each had a different prevalence of injuries and illnesses.

Promotion of Para Athlete Well-being (PROPEL II): A Cross-sectional Study of Sleep in Para Athletes Across Two Nations.

OBJECTIVE: Limited research exists on the sleep profiles of South African Para athletes. The aims of this study are to describe sleep quality, day-time sleepiness, and chronotype of South African Para athletes and to compare the relationship between sleep-related outcomes and demographic factors to athletes from a higher-resource country. DESIGN: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted. Sleep-related characteristics were assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. Multiple regression models were run with and without country as independent variable. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-four South African athletes and 52 Israeli athletes were included. Thirty percent of South African athletes presented with excessive daytime sleepiness, 35% slept 6 hrs or less per night, and 52% reported poor sleep quality. Thirty-three percent of Israeli athletes reported excessive daytime sleepiness, 29% slept 6 hrs or less, and 56% reported poor sleep quality. Chronotype was the only variable that differed significantly between countries (overrepresentation of morning types in South African athletes, and intermediate types in Israeli athletes). Intermediate chronotypes had significantly greater odds of excessive daytime sleepiness ( P = 0.007) and poor sleep quality ( P = 0.002) than morning types, irrespective of country. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of poor sleep among both South African and Israeli Para athletes warrants further investigation.

Validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 for longitudinal mental health evaluation in elite Para athletes.

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing amount of research regarding mental health in elite athletes in recent years, athletes with impairments are hardly represented. Due to this lack of data and the significant need of athlete-specific mental health screening tools, a continuous mental health monitoring program for elite Para athletes was implemented. OBJECTIVE: Validation of the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) as a suitable tool for continuous mental health evaluation in elite Para athletes. DESIGN: A 43-week prospective observational cohort study. SETTING: Online questionnaire, provided weekly via web browser and mobile app. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-eight Para athletes preparing for Paralympic Summer and Winter Games. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weekly PHQ-4 scores, stress level, and mood. RESULTS: With a mean weekly response rate of 82.7% (SD = 8.0), 2149 PHQ-4, 2159 stress level and 2153 mood assessments were completed. Mean PHQ-4 score among all participating athletes was 1.2 (SD = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], [1.1-1.3]). Individual weekly scores ranged from 0 to 12 and showed significant floor effects, with 54% of the scores being zero. PHQ-4 scores were significantly higher among female athletes and team sport members (p < .001). Internal consistency of the PHQ-4 was satisfying, Cronbach's α being 0.839. There were significant cross-sectional as well as longitudinal correlations of PHQ-4 and stress level as well as mood values (p < .001). 39.7% of all athletes (n = 31) had at least one positive screen for mental health symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The PHQ-4 was shown to be a valid tool for mental health surveillance in elite Para athletes. Significant correlations of the PHQ-4 and stress level as well as mood were shown. High weekly response rates among participating athletes indicated good acceptance of the program. The weekly monitoring allowed for the identification of individual fluctuations and could identify potential athletes at risk for mental health problems when combined with clinical follow-up.

Sports-related dental injuries and oral health status among Malaysian para-athletes: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Athletes with disabilities may be at an even greater risk of orofacial trauma than their counterparts, and the risk may vary depending on the type of sports. This study aimed to assess the incidence of sports-related dental injuries and oral health status among Malaysian para-athletes. METHODS: A questionnaire survey was conducted to assess self-reported dental injuries and knowledge of their management. An intraoral examination was performed using the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index following the World Health Organization guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 61 para-athletes (men = 90.16%, n = 55; women = 9.84%, n = 6) from different sports categories with different disabilities randomly participated in this study. The incidence of self-reported dental injuries was 18.0% (n = 11), with the most common injury being crown tooth fracture (72.7%) and lip laceration (63.6%). However, the majority of the athletes (70.5%, n = 43) did nothing after experiencing dental trauma, and 82.0% (n = 50) were unaware of the immediate management of dental trauma. Based on the intraoral examination, only 9.8% (n = 6) of the athletes had perfectly sound teeth. The mean total DMFT index was 3.49 ± 2.371, while the mean DMFT index for decayed, missing, and filled teeth was 1.28 ± 1.293, 0.74 ± 0.705, and 1.48 ± 1.120, respectively. The mean DMFT index for decayed, missing, and filled teeth and total DMFT index significantly differed among the types of disabilities (P < .05) but not between the sexes (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The most commonly reported injuries among para-athletes are crown tooth fractures and lip lacerations. The total DMFT index among para-athletes is moderate, emphasising the need for improvements.

Enseñanza de deportes de colaboración y oposición: análisis comparativo entre metodologías comprensivas y modelo tradicional / Collaborative and opposition sports teaching: comparative analysis between comprehensive methodologies and the traditional model / Ensino colaborativo e de oposição do esporte: análise comparativa entre metodologias integrais e o modelo tradicional

El propósito del estudio fue determinar el efecto que produce la aplicación de una unidad de enseñanza de los deportes de colaboración y oposición diseñada en base a dos propuestas del modelo pedagógico comprensivo: el Teaching Games for Understanding y la Didáctica Cognitiva, en comparación a un modelo tradicional de enseñanza. La muestra estuvo conformada por alumnos(as) de 5° a 8° básicos (12 a 14 años). Mediante metodología observacional, fueron evaluadas las principales acciones de juego eficientes en las dimensiones de ataque y defensa, en momentos de test y retest, a un grupo control (GC) y otro experimental (GE). El análisis de varianza (MANOVA) y las comparaciones por pares con corrección de Bonferroni aplicadas con un alfa de 0.05, evidenciaron diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos, de las acciones motoras de lanzamiento en zona eficaz (GE: 74,3% GC: -16,7%) y Pase simple (GE: -27,1% - GC: -3,1%). Mientras que, mediante el análisis descriptivo de las tasas de ocurrencia, se encontraron diferencias de las acciones motoras de Anticipación (GE:211,1% - GC:20%), marcación eficiente (GE: 330,8% - GC: -7,1%) y desmarcación (GE: 400% - GC: 0%). Los hallazgos de ambos análisis muestran que la aplicación de metodologías comprensivas en la enseñanza de los deportes de colaboración y oposición en el contexto de educación física escolar, mejoran la calidad de las acciones de juego, en comparación a un modelo tradicional de enseñanza.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect produced by the application of a teaching unit for collaborative and oppositional sports designed on the basis of two proposals of the comprehensive pedagogical model: Teaching Games for Understanding and Cognitive Didactics, compared to a traditional teaching model. The sample consisted of students from 5th to 8th grade (12 to 14 years old). By means of observational methodology, the main efficient game actions in the dimensions of attack and defense were evaluated, in test and retest moments, to a control group (CG) and an experimental group (EG). The analysis of variance (MANOVA) and pairwise comparisons with Bonferroni correction applied with an alpha of 0. 05, showed significant differences between both groups in the motor actions of throwing in the effective zone (EG: 74.3% - CG: -16.7%) and simple passing (EG: -27.1% - CG: -3.1%), while descriptive analysis of the occurrence rates showed differences in the anticipation motor actions (EG: 211.1% - CG: 20%), efficient tackling (EG: 330.8% - CG: -7.1%) and untacking (EG: 400% - CG: 0%). The findings of both analyses show that the application of comprehensive methodologies in the teaching of collaborative and oppositional sports in the context of school physical education improves the quality of the game actions, compared to a traditional teaching model.

O objetivo do estudo foi determinar o efeito produzido pela aplicação de uma unidade de ensino de esportes colaborativos e opostos projetada com base em 2 propostas do modelo pedagógico integral: Jogos de ensino para a compreensão e didática cognitiva, em comparação com um modelo de ensino tradicional. A amostra foi composta por alunos da 5ª à 8ª série (12 a 14 anos). Por meio de metodologia observacional, foram avaliadas as principais ações de jogo eficientes nas dimensões de ataque e defesa, nos momentos de teste e reteste, em um grupo controle (GC) e um grupo experimental (GE). A análise de variância (MANOVA) e as comparações por pares com correção de Bonferroni aplicada com alfa de 0,05, mostraram diferenças significativas entre ambos os grupos, das ações motoras de lançamento na zona efetiva (GE: 74,3% GC: -16,7% ) e passe simples (GE: -27,1% - GC: -3,1%). Já pela análise descritiva das taxas de ocorrência, foram encontradas diferenças nas ações motoras de Antecipação (GE: 211,1% - GC: 20%), marcação eficiente (GE: 330,8% - GC: -7,1%) e desmarcação (GE: 400% - GC: 0%). Os resultados de ambas as análises mostram que a aplicação de metodologias abrangentes no ensino de esportes colaborativos e de oposição no contexto da educação física escolar melhora a qualidade das ações de jogo, em comparação com um modelo de ensino tradicional.

El deporte paralímpico en Chile: resultados históricos de las participaciones en los juegos paralímpicos de invierno y verano / Paralympic sport in Chile: historical results of participation in summer and winter paralympic games / O esporte paralímpico no Chile: resultados históricos das participações em jogos paralímpico de inverno e verão

Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo relatar la evolución del movimiento paralímpico y su vínculo con el escenario político nacional e internacional. Los Juegos Paralímpicos de Verano hicieron su debut en 1960, mientras que Chile participó por primera vez en 1992. Por otro lado, los Juegos Paralímpicos de Invierno comenzaron en 1976, y la primera participación chilena en este evento se produjo en 2002. Para el desarrollo del estudio se utilizó un análisis documental, donde se analizaron las convocatorias oficiales de las delegaciones chilenas, junto con las planillas de resultados generales obtenidos en los Juegos Paralímpicos, se extrajo de los documentos: el número de atletas participantes de ambos sexos y deportes, información que posteriormente fue agrupada en presencia o no de medallas y tipo de medalla obtenida y, a partir de aquello, se analizó por tipo de discapacidad y año de participación. A través de los años, Chile vivenció constantes procesos y cambios en los periodos de gestión, a esto se suma la promulgación de leyes, tanto nacionales como internacionales, junto con la constante ayuda recibida de distintas agrupaciones privadas y gubernamentales, resultando en un paulatino incremento de deportistas paralímpicos, situación que colaboró en gran medida con el desarrollo integral del movimiento paralímpico chileno hasta lo que es en la actualidad; este crecimiento facilitó resultados exitosos, como el obtenido en el año 2012 con la conquista de la primera medalla paralímpica de Chile, llegando a un total de siete medallas distribuidas en cuatro deportes en los Juegos Paralímpicos Tokio 2020, quedando situado en el ranking paralímpico en la cuadragésima quinta posición.

The aim of this paper was to describe the evolution of the Paralympic movement and its connection with the national and international political scenario. The Summer Paralympic Games made their debut in 1960, while Chile first participated in 1992. On the other hand, the Winter Paralympic Games began in 1976, and Chile's first participation in this event occurred in 2002. A documentary analysis was conducted for the study, in which the official documents of the Chilean delegations were analyzed, along with the overall results obtained in the Paralympic Games. The documents provided information on the number of participating athletes of both genders, results and sports. This information was later grouped based on the presence or absence of medals and the type of medal obtained. It was further analyzed by type of disability and year of participation. Over the years, Chile experienced constant processes and changes in management, in addition to the enactment of laws, both national and international. The constant support received from various private and governmental organizations contributed to the gradual increase in paralympic athletes, which greatly facilitated the overall development of the Chilean Paralympic movement to its current state. This growth led to successful outcomes, such as Chile's 1st Paralympic medal in 2012, and the country has now achieved a total of 7 medals in 4 disciplines in Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, placing it in the 45th position in paralympic medal board.

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo relatar a evolução do movimento paralímpico e sua relação com o cenário político nacional e internacional. Os Jogos Paralímpicos de Verão fizeram sua estreia em 1960, enquanto o Chile participou pela primeira vez em 1992. Por outro lado, os Jogos Paralímpicos de Inverno começaram em 1976, e a primeira participação chilena neste evento ocorreu em 2002. O estudo foi realizado através de análise documental, de onde foram extraídas informações sobre as delegações chilenas, juntamente com as planilhas de resultados gerais obtidos dos Jogos Paralímpicos. As variáveis registradas foram número de atletas participantes de ambos os sexos, modalidades e esportes. As informações posteriormente foram agrupadas em quantidade de medalhas e tipo da medalha obtida, sendo analisadas por tipo de deficiência e ano de participação. Ao longo dos anos, o Chile experimentou constantes processos e mudanças nos períodos de gestão, como a promulgação de leis, tanto nacionais como internacionais, juntamente com a ajuda constante recebida de diferentes grupos privados e governamentais, resultando em aumento de atletas paralímpicos, situação que contribuiu com o desenvolvimento integral do movimento paralímpico chileno. Este crescimento facilitou resultados exitosos, como o obtido em 2012 com a conquista da primeira medalha paralímpica do Chile, alcançando hoje um total de 7 medalhas distribuídas em 4 disciplinas em Tóquio 2022, colocando-se na quadragésima quinta posição do quadro de medalhas.