title: Effects of Induced Volitional Fatigue on Sprint and Jump Performance in Paralympic Athletes with Cerebral Palsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated performance, neuromuscular characteristics, and fatigue in Paralympic athletes with cerebral palsy (CP) during a maximal explosive performance trial, compared with well-trained, sprint-specific able-bodied athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six Paralympic athletes with hemiplegic CP and 12 able-bodied athletes performed one 40-m sprint test (in seconds) and Vertical Jump Tests off both legs (in centimeters), the affected leg individually (in centimeters), and the nonaffected leg individually (in centimeters) before and after an adapted Multistage Shuttle Run Test to exhaustion. Electromyography of five bilateral muscles was measured for mean amplitude (percentage maximum activation).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 40-m sprint test, Vertical Jump Test off both legs, and Vertical Jump Test off the affected leg were significantly compromised in the CP group, whereas the Vertical Jump Test off the nonaffected leg was similar between groups (P < 0.05). Both groups fatigued similarly in performance and electromyography. Affected side electromyography was higher than nonaffected electromyography in the Vertical Jump Test off both legs and Vertical Jump Test off the affected leg in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The similarity in fatigue between CP and able-bodied groups confirms that Paralympic athletes with CP may have overcome deficits associated with CP documented in sedentary children. The identified asymmetry may assist with a deeper understanding of performance deficits in CP, as it is indicated that activity generated by both legs is performed toward the capacity of the affected leg.
authors.affiliation: From the Division of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa (PR, YA-K, WD); Department of Medicine, University of the Free State (RT); Department of Sport Science (SF) and Institute of Sports and Exercise Medicine (WD), Stellenbosch University, South Africa; and International Olympic Committee Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa (WD).
authors.forename: Phoebe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Runciman
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Yumna
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Albertus-Kajee
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Derman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005080:Exercise Test; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult