03-08-2002, 06:16 PM • Bhambhani Y (2002). Physiology of
wheelchair racing in athletes with spinal cord injury. Sports
Med. 32 (1): 23-51. Summary: Wheelchair racing is one of the
most popular sporting activities of individuals with spinal cord
injury. Athletes with this impairment have unique changes in
metabolic, cardiorespiratory, neuromuscular and thermoregulatory
systems, which reduce their overall physiological capacity
compared with able-bodied individuals or individuals with other
types of impairments. This review on spinal cord injury:
presents the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation
classification of wheelchair athletes; describes methods
commonly used to characterise anaerobic and aerobic fitness;
presents the findings of physiological studies that have
evaluated wheelchair racing performance; identifies the risks
associated with temperature regulation when competing in
wheelchair races; and discusses special conditions that can
influence wheelchair racing performance. Currently there i