Wheelchair Rugby Essay

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The sport chosen for this case study was wheelchair rugby. Ten Paralympic highly trained athletes with cervical spinal cord injury partook in this study in order to test if Inspiratory Muscle Training (IMT) allows improvement of respiratory structure and function of peak exercise responses. Wheelchair rugby is very demanding on the respiratory system. Since these athletes have an impaired respiratory function of either partial or complete paralysis of the respiratory muscles, and increased function of their respiratory system it is very beneficial. These athletes respiratory system is more affected with using arm movement as the body is also focusing on postural support. This is especially existent in these athletes with spinal cord injuries…show more content…
Since these athletes have an impaired respiratory function of either partial or complete paralysis of the respiratory muscles, an increased function of their respiratory system it is very beneficial. The athletes in this specific sport respiratory system are more affected because of the arm movement as the body is also focusing on postural support. As according to McArdle’s Exercise Physiology textbook, arm crank exercises such as wheelchair rugby involves higher exercise intensity and submaximal O2 consumption, leading to a higher metabolic rate per active music. This higher metabolic rate concludes that it requires a higher O2 consumption, thus meaning the respiratory system will need to supply more O2 at a faster rate (McArdle, 2010, 294). This arm movement is a major task in wheelchair rugby, making respiratory training very important and essential. Through the results it has been shown that this training has allowed these athletes to perform at higher success based on respiratory advances. It enabled them to have an increased VO2peak, increased tidal volume, increased Wpeak and VO2peak in maximal arm-crank exercises, increased aerobic performance and other positive changes. It has the ability to improve the muscle structure of inspiratory in the respiratory system and positively influences muscle

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