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. 2023 Aug 10;11(8):151.
doi: 10.3390/sports11080151.

Evaluation of the Training Session in Elite Paralympic Powerlifting Athletes Based on Biomechanical and Thermal Indicators

Larissa Christine Vieira Santos  1   2 , Felipe J Aidar  1   2   3   4   5 , Rodrigo Villar  5 , Gianpiero Greco  6 , Jefferson Lima de Santana  5 , Anderson Carlos Marçal  1   2 , Paulo Francisco de Almeida-Neto  7 , Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinoco Cabral  7 , Georgian Badicu  8 , Hadi Nobari  9 , Raphael Frabrício de Souza  1   2   3 , Walderi Monteiro da Silva Júnior  1   10
Affiliations

Evaluation of the Training Session in Elite Paralympic Powerlifting Athletes Based on Biomechanical and Thermal Indicators

Larissa Christine Vieira Santos et al. Sports (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Paralympic powerlifting (PP) is performed on a bench press, aiming to lift as much weight as possible in a single repetition.

Purpose: To evaluate thermal asymmetry and dynamic force parameters with 45 and 80% 1 Repetition Maximum (1 RM) in PP athletes.

Methods: Twelve elite PP male athletes were evaluated before and after a training session regarding skin temperature (thermography) and dynamic force indicators (Average Propulsive Velocity-MPV, Maximum Velocity-VMax, and Power). The training consisted of five series of five repetitions (5 × 5) with 80% 1 RM. The force indicators and dynamics before and after (45% 1 RM) were evaluated in series "1" and "5" with 80% 1 RM.

Results: The temperature did not present asymmetry, and there were differences between the moment before and after. In MPV, Vmax, and Power, with 45% 1 RM, there were differences both in asymmetry and in moments (p < 0.005). With 80% 1 RM, asymmetry was observed, but no differences between moments (p < 0.005).

Conclusion: No thermal asymmetry was observed. There were reductions in MVP and VMax at 45 and 80% 1 RM but without significant differences between time points (before and after). However, there was asymmetry in the moments before and after within a safety standard, where Paralympic powerlifting was safe in terms of asymmetries.

Keywords: Paralympic sports; asymmetry; disabled persons; recovery.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Experimental study design. Legend: 1 RM: one repetition maximum; MVP: mean propulsive velocity; Vmax: maximum velocity.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Illustration of the two linear encoders (A) and the thermographic images of the pectoralis major (B) and triceps brachii (C).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Individual skin temperature responses in the muscles, and below in the same column is the 95% confidence interval of (A) the clavicular region of the pectoralis major and (B) triceps brachii long head before and after a training session. Note: some athletes presented similar results; thus, all 12 participants’ data are not visible in the (A,B).
Figure 4
Figure 4
(A) Individual mean propulsive velocity, (B) individual maximum velocity, and (C) individual power, and below in the same column is the 95% confidence interval of the dominant and non-dominant arm before and after a training session performed at 45% 1 RM. Note: some athletes presented similar results; thus, all 12 participants’ data are not visible in the (A–C).
Figure 5
Figure 5
(A) Individual mean propulsive velocity, (B) individual maximum velocity, and (C) individual power, and below in the same column is the 95% confidence interval of the dominant and non-dominant arm before and after the first and last series of the 5 × 5 performed at 80% 1 RM. Note: some athletes presented similar results; thus, all 12 participants’ data are not visible in the (A–C).
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