Performance dispersion for evidence-based classification of stationary throwers.
BACKGROUND
There is a need for better understanding of the dispersion of classification-related variable to develop an evidence-based classification of athletes with a disability participating in stationary throwing events.


OBJECTIVE
The purposes of this study were as follows: (1) to describe tools designed to comprehend and represent the dispersion of the performance between successive classes and (2) to present this dispersion for the elite male and female stationary shot-putters who participated in Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
This study analysed a total of 479 attempts performed by 114 male and female stationary shot-putters in three F30s (F32-F34) and seven F50s (F52-F58) classes during the course of eight events during Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.


RESULTS
The average differences of best performance were 1.46 ± 0.46 m for males between F54 and F58 classes as well as 1.06 ± 1.18 m for females between F55 and F58 classes. The results demonstrated a linear relationship between best performance and classification while revealing two male gold medallists in F33 and F52 classes as outliers.


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms the benefits of the comparative matrices, performance continuum and dispersion plots to comprehend classification-related variables. The study presented here represents a stepping stone into biomechanical analyses of stationary throwers, particularly on the eve of the London 2012 Paralympic Games where new evidences could be gathered.
Group of Research on Adapted Physical Activities, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada. frossard.laurent@uqam.ca
Laurent
L
Frossard
D056352:Athletes / Q000145:classification*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002681:China; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000145:classification*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014142:Track and Field