Examining the Influence of Impairment Type on the Development of Paralympic Sport Athletes

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Nima Dehghansai School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Paralympic Innovation, Paralympics Australia, Adelaide, Australia

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Veronica Allan School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Ross A. Pinder Paralympic Innovation, Paralympics Australia, Adelaide, Australia

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Joe Baker School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2021-0107
Keywords:
athlete development; Para sport; physical impairment; sport pathways
First Published Online:
02 Nov 2021
In Print:
Volume 39: Issue 1
Page Range:
129–138
Restricted access

Research has recently examined the role of impairment onset on athlete development in Paralympic sport; however, less is known on how impairment type can impact athlete sporting pathways. In this study, 187 Australian and Canadian Paralympic sport athletes completed a survey. Participants were divided into the following four groups: impaired muscle power (n = 79); ataxia, athetosis, and hypertonia (n = 44); limb deficiencies (n = 42); and other physical impairments (n = 22). Mechanisms of initiation into Paralympic sport varied between groups with some drawn to sport through friends and/or family (i.e., limb deficiencies and other physical impairments groups) while others through talent search programs (i.e., ataxia, athetosis, and hypertonia group) or health care professionals/rehabilitation centers (i.e., impaired muscle power group). Results revealed no significant differences between groups in the chronological age or absolute years for achieving milestones. However, considering the high variability within the sample, more research is necessary to better understand how athletes with different physical impairments navigate through their sporting careers.

Dehghansai (nimadehghan@gmail.com) is corresponding author, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0366-8239

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