title: A descriptive comparison of sprint cycling performance and neuromuscular characteristics in able-bodied athletes and paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the sprint cycling performance and neuromuscular characteristics of Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) during a fatiguing maximal cycling trial compared with those of able-bodied (AB) athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five elite athletes with CP and 16 AB age- and performance-matched controls performed a 30-sec Wingate cycle test. Power output (W/kg) and fatigue index (%) were calculated. Electromyography was measured in five bilateral muscles and expressed in mean amplitude (mV) and median frequency (Hz).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Power output was significantly higher in the AB group (10.4 [0.5] W/kg) than in the CP group (9.8 [0.5] W/kg) (P < 0.05). Fatigue index was statistically similar between the AB (27% [0.1%]) and CP (25% [0.1%]) groups. Electromyographic mean amplitude and frequency changed similarly in all muscle groups tested, in both affected and nonaffected sides, in the CP and AB groups (P < 0.05). Neuromuscular irregularities were identified in the CP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similarity in fatigue between the CP and AB groups indicates that elite athletes with CP may have a different exercise response to others with CP. The authors propose that this may result from high-level training over many years. This has rehabilitative implications, as it indicates near-maximal adaptation of the CP body toward normal levels.
authors.affiliation: From the UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town (PR, WD, YA-K, RT); International Olympic Committee Research Centre, Cape Town (WD); and Department of Sport Science, Stellenbosch University, South Africa (SF).
authors.forename: Phoebe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Runciman
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Derman
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Yumna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Albertus-Kajee
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tucker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D019415:Torque