Research outputs

Explore some of our recent research. You can search by project title or academic name and filter by research theme and discipline.

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The activity profiles of elite Wheelchair Rugby athletes

In order to prescribe athletes with more specific, individualised training programmes we need to understand the demands of the sport, but more importantly how the demands differ between athletes.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Cooling athletes with a spinal cord injury

Examining the scientific literature that addresses the application of cooling strategies in individuals with a SCI.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Individualised internal and external training load relationships in elite Wheelchair Rugby players

Establishing the relationship between measures of internal and external training load specific to Wheelchair Rugby.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Miniaturised data loggers and radio frequency systems for tracking wheelchair activities

Investigating the accuracy and reliability of wheel mounted miniaturised data loggers (MDL)

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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A novel indoor tracking system to explore the demands of wheelchair sports

Understanding the physical demands placed on athletes during competition is a key requirement to help practitioners prescribe specific, individualised training programmes.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Thermoregulatory responses during competitive Wheelchair Rugby

Determining whether a player’s physical impairment or activity profile impacts on Wheelchair Rugby performance.

Funder: Peter Harrison Foundation

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The use of inertial sensors for measuring wheelchair sports activities

The use of innovative technology has become a key feature of research that has improved knowledge and performance levels in wheelchair court sports.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Athletes with tetraplegia achieve their highest heart rates when exercising on court

The physiological assessment of highly-trained athletes is a cornerstone of many scientific support programs. It is well known that tetraplegia results in lower maximum heart rates due to the innervation of the heart which is affected by spinal cord injury.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Sports wheelchair configuration: A review of the literature

The wheelchair is clearly the most critical part of equipment used by a wheelchair athlete and can have a huge bearing on their sports performance

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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The effect of wheel configuration on Wheelchair Basketball mobility performance

Using the deflection test to determine the lateral stiffness of different wheel configurations.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Expert users’ perceptions of racing wheelchair design and set up

using a qualitative research design to engage directly with expert users (e.g. elite wheelchair racers, their coaches and the manufacturers of racing chairs) and discuss their perceptions of how different aspects of chair design and configuration impact upon athletic performance.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Physiological and kinematic screening of trained hand cyclists

Enabling the hand bike-user interface to be optimised with regard to efficiency and performance.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Similar exercise thresholds for athletes with paraplegia and tetraplegia

The purpose of this study was to find out whether these thresholds would occur at a similar relative exercise intensity in wheelchair athletes with either tetraplegia (wheelchair rugby athletes) or paraplegia (Wheelchair Basketball athletes).

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Field based testing of wheelchair athletes

In line with the able-bodied literature, it is recognised that performance in wheelchair sports not only rely on fitness, but also sport-specific skills, experience and technical proficiency.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Current perspectives on profiling and enhancing wheelchair court-sport performance

This review article outlined scientific evidence and current perspectives on profiling and enhancing physical performance in the court sports.

Funder: Peter Harrison Foundation

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Teach your athletes how to breathe – It may be important for wheelchair racing performance

The relationship between locomotor-respiratory coupling (the ratio between push and breathing frequency), respiratory parameters and work efficiency is not known in wheelchair athletes. This study aimed to gain further insights into the interplay between respiration and performance.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Does an abdominal binder improve performance in athletes with tetraplegia?

The following studies explored whether elastic binding of the abdomen i) influences respiratory mechanics during wheelchair propulsion and ii) improves field-based measures of fitness in highly-trained individuals with cervical SCI.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Differentiated perceived exertion and self-regulated wheelchair exercise

This study aimed to investigate the utility of the differentiated rating of perceived exertion (RPE) for the self-regulation of submaximal wheelchair propulsion in novice users.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Peak oxygen uptake from differentiated ratings of perceived exertion in wheelchair athletes

Can you predict peak oxygen uptake from differentiated ratings of perceived exertion in trained wheelchair sportspersons?

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Comparing methods of estimating body composition in highly trained wheelchair athletes

When working with Paralympic athletes the estimation of body composition is problematic because the transferability of able-bodied athletes’ normative values are questionable due to the increased fat mass and decreased bone density and lean mass often reported in these individuals.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, skinfold thickness and waist circumference: Wheelchair Rugby

Assessing body composition in ambulant and non-ambulant wheelchair games players

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as a measure of body composition

Recent findings show that DXA is a highly reproducible measure of body composition in wheelchair athletes.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Nutritional supplement use is common among athletes with a physical impairment

Assessing the use of nutritional substances for athletes with physical impairments

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Caffeine improves preloaded cycling but not handcycling 10 km time trial performance

Assessing how levels of caffeine improve preloaded cycling

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Caffeine improves 20 m sprint and a one-off 4-min push performance in Wheelchair Rugby players

Caffeine can be beneficial during short-term, endurance and repeated sprint (running) performance.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Individuals with a SCI display large inter-individual variation in caffeine absorption

Great inter-individual variability in wheelchair performance responses have been reported during a 1500 m time trial (Flueck et al., 2014), 4-min maximal push and repeated 20 m sprints following caffeine (Graham-Paulson et al., 2015), especially in individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI).

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Spinal cord injury level and the circulating cytokine response to strenuous exercise

Assessing the circulating cytokine response to strenuous exercise in varying SCI levels.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Inflammation-mediating cytokine response to acute handcycling exercise

This study investigated whether the inflammation-mediating potential of handcycling exercise can be enhanced by the addition of concurrent electrical stimulation-evoked lower-limb cycling.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Effects of hybrid and handcycle exercise on cardiovascular disease risk factors

Researching the effects of hybrid cycle and handcycle exercise on cardiovascular disease risk factors in persons with a spinal cord injury: A randomised controlled trial

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Plasma cytokine and exertional responses: exercise intensity and volume of exercising muscle mass

The smaller muscle cross-sectional area of the upper versus lower limb may act to augment intracellular signalling for IL-6 release per unit of contracting muscle when performing a given workload.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Taking a hot bath can induce some of the positive immune changes seen during exercise

Investigating whether hot baths can induce positive immune changes similar to exercise: extra benefits for individuals with tetraplegia

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Muscle mass and body temperature in the inflammatory response to upper-body exercise and heat

Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with a range of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Physiology and biomechanics of forwards and reverse wheelchair propulsion

Wheelchair mobility during the court sports can be considered multidirectional with lots of braking and sharp changes of direction performed.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Efficiency of hand-rim wheelchair-propulsion

Wheelchair propulsion is relatively inefficient physiologically in comparison to other forms of locomotion such as running, cycling and handcycling.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Posture and Mobility Group (PMG) Project

In 2015, the PHC received funding from the Posture and Mobility Group to complete an exploratory study exploring scapula kinematics and shoulder girdle forces during manual wheelchair propulsion.

Funder: Posture and Mobility Group (PMG)

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Understanding propulsive shoulder forces and scapular kinematics during manual wheelchair use

Shoulder pain and inefficient propulsion are common and disabling problems for wheelchair users.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Changes in physiology and technique during different modes of wheelchair propulsion

Laboratory-based testing is a popular means for conducting research due to the controlled environment it creates for researchers.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Spinal cord injury level influences acute plasma caffeine responses

Investigating the absorption and acute effects of caffeine at rest in individuals with no spinal cord injury (SCI), paraplegia (PARA), and tetraplegia (TETRA).

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation, Swiss Paraplegic Research Centre

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A comparison of speed profiles during training and competition in elite wheelchair rugby players

Investigating speed profiles in training and competition can enhance training specificity to optimize the performance of team-sport athletes and potentially minimize risk of injury.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Exercise responses in elite male wheelchair athletes with or without cervical spinal cord injury.

The exercise response of Salivary alpha amylase and Chromogranin A as markers of sympathetic activity in an in vivo model.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Thermoregulatory responses during competitive wheelchair rugby match play.

A player's physical impairment, rather than their activity profile, is related to the amount of thermal strain experienced during competitive wheelchair rugby.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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The psychosocial impact of wheelchair tennis on participants from developing countries.

Participation in sport can improve psychosocial well-being for individuals with physical disabilities in developing countries.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation, Wheelchair Tennis Development Fund

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Speed profiles in wheelchair court sports; comparison of methods for measuring mobility performance.

A hybrid approach for measurement of wheelchair mobility performance may be the most advantageous for measuring wheelchair court sports performance.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation, Loughborough University Enterprise Project Group

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Altering the speed profiles of wheelchair rugby players with game-simulation drill design.

Game-simulation drills can be manipulated to alter speed profiles in Wheelchair rugby players.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Effect of small-sided game formats on physical and technical performance in wheelchair basketball.

Implementing small-sided game formats in training may be advantageous for physical and technical performance in wheelchair basketball.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Centre

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Sprint performance and propulsion asymmetries on an ergometer in wheelchair rugby players.

Do differences in propulsion asymmetries exist between HP and LP players during sprint performance for experienced WCR players?

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Understanding the impact of trunk and arm impairments on wheelchair rugby performance.

The effect of trunk and arm impairments on physical and technical aspects of Wheelchair Rugby performance during competition.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation, UK Sport

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A multi-factorial assessment of elite para triathletes' response to 2 weeks of intensified training.

Intensified training does not necessarily increase parameters associated with fatigue and training or non-training related stress in para triathletes.

Funder: The Peter Harrison Foundation

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Towards a sport-specific evidence-based classification system for Para Va'a.

Athletes with full trunk function and either unilateral or bilateral leg impairment may be able to compete in the same class for Para Va’a.

Funder: The International Canoe Federation (ICF), The Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF), UK Sport and the Peter Harrison Foundation.

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High Thermoregulatory Strain During Competitive Paratriathlon Racing in the Heat.

Strategies need to be implemented to reduce the thermal strain experienced by Para Triathletes during competition in the heat.

Funder: International Triathlon Union

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Crank fore-aft position alters the distribution of work during synchronous recumbent handcycling.

An increase in crank fore-aft position resulted in increased work performed in the pull phase and a decreased work performed in the push phase, without changing gross mechanical efficiency.

Funder: No specific funding.

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Horizontal crank position affects economy and upper limb kinematics of recumbent hand cyclists.

Horizontal crank positions of 97% and 100% are more economical and positively affect upper-limb kinematics in hand cyclists.

Funder: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Supported by the English Institute of Sport, British Cycling and the Peter Harrison Centre.

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Perceived exertion responses to wheelchair propulsion between novice and trained individuals.

Trained wheelchair rugby players see no differences between peripheral rate of perceived exertion (RPEP) and central (RPEC) irrespective of disability whilst peripheral RPE was significantly greater than central RPE in untrained able-bodied adults.

Funder: No specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Isometric tests for the assessment of arm strength impairment in wheelchair rugby classification.

A battery of isometric strength tests can be used to reliably infer strength impairment in WR athletes and can be of use in the development of evidence-based classification.

Funder: International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

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Division, result and score margin alter the performance of elite wheelchair tennis players.

Differences in activity profiles exist between divisions in wheelchair tennis, although internal workload and technical performance are similar, as are the divisions responses to result and score margin.

Funder: Peter Harrison Centre

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Interrater reliability of the new sport-specific evidence-based classification system for Para Va'a.

Para Va'a athletes would be expected to be allocated to the same class regardless of which classifier team conducts the classification in the new evidence-based classification system for Para Va'a.

Funder: Peter Harrison Centre

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Practice improves court mobility and self-efficacy in tennis-specific wheelchair propulsion.

Tennis-specific mobility drills improve confidence and chair propulsion skill with likely crossover into tennis match play competence and ability.

Funder: International Tennis Federation

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Measures of impairment applicable to classification of athletes competing in wheelchair sports.

Measurements of impaired strength, coordination, and range of motion require further investigation to apply to classification of Paralympic athletes.

Funder: International Tennis Federation and Institute of Advance Studies at Loughborough University

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Crank length alters kinematics and kinetics, yet not the economy of recumbent hand-cyclists.

Crank length manipulations alter the kinetics and kinematics of recumbent hand cyclists without influencing their physiological economy.

Funder: English Institute of Sport and British Cycling.

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Optimising classification of proximal arm strength impairment in wheelchair rugby.

A series of single- and multi-joint isometric tests developed to assess proximal arm strength impairment are significantly correlated to mobility performance specific to Wheelchair Rugby.

Funder: International Paralympic Committee (IPC).

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Criterion validity of a field-based assessment of aerobic capacity in wheelchair rugby athletes.

A multi-stage fitness test (MFT) provides a suitable test at a group level for the assessment of VO2peak.

Funder: Peter Harrison Centre.

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Inertial measurement units to estimate drag forces and power output during wheelchair tennis tests.

Coast-down tests provide important insights regarding wheelchair maintenance, as well as external power losses of the wheelchair–athlete combination.

Funder: Peter Harrison Centre.

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Sleep characteristics of highly trained wheelchair rugby athletes with and without a cervical SCI.

Highly trained wheelchair rugby athletes are on the borderline between moderate to poor quality sleep reflected by suboptimal sleep characteristics.

Funder: Peter Harrison Centre

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Sleep disruption considerations for Paralympic athletes competing at Tokyo 2020.

The Tokyo games may offer a unique challenge for athletes trying to obtain optimal sleep, due to the anticipated thermal demands and the consequent irregular scheduling of events.

Funder: Peter Harrison Centre

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Load and performance monitoring in wheelchair court sports: A narrative review.

Wheelchair mounted inertial sensors are most reliable and versatile for measuring wheelchair mobility performance and estimates of workload.

Funder: Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development [WheelPower].

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Kinematic and kinetic performance variables during paddling among para-kayak athletes.

There appear to be no significant differences in kinetic and kinematic variables between above knee (AK) and below knee (BK) amputation para-kayak athletes.

Funder: International Canoe Federation (ICF) and The Swedish Research Council for Sport Science (CIF)

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Shoulder tendon adaptations in highly trained wheelchair rugby athletes with different impairments.

Acute biceps tendon adaptations occur in response to a GXT in highly trained WR athletes which may play a role in the prevalence of shoulder problems.

Funder: Peter Harrison Foundation and the Swiss Paraplegic Research.

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Thermal demands and mobility performance during international wheelchair rugby competition.

Differences in core temperature may not be related to athlete classification or physiological function, but with movement time per quarter.

Funder: Mitacs and Own the Podium.

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Ice slurry ingestion lowers thermoregulatory strain in wheelchair tennis players.

Ice slurry ingestion (ICE) ameliorates thermal strain in wheelchair tennis players when consumed during exercise in the heat but does not result in any effect on subsequent repeated wheelchair sprint performance.

Funder: Lawn Tennis Association and the Peter Harrison Foundation.

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Force-velocity profiling of elite wheelchair rugby players over multiple sprints.

Higher rolling resistance can result in greater power outputs during wheelchair sprints due to the longer push times allowing for increased contact and power transfer.

Funder: Peter Harrison Centre and Zonmw

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WCR players maintain sprint performance but alter propulsion biomechanics after simulated match play

Following simulated match play, players displayed alterations in kinetics, joint kinematics, and asymmetries but maintained peak velocity and distance during wheelchair sprinting.

Funder: Peter Harrison Foundation and the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University.

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