Edison Duarte

Sport injuries in elite paralympic swimmers with visual impairment

CONTEXT Visually impaired athletes sustain overuse injuries in the lower limbs, but the pattern of injuries may vary according to the sport. The characteristics of sports injuries in visually impaired swimmers are unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the characteristics and epidemiologic measures (prevalence, clinical incidence, and incidence rate) of sports injuries in visually impaired elite national swimmers and to assess differences among visual classes and between sexes. DESIGN Descriptive epidemiology study. SETTING International Paralympic competitions held between 2004 and 2008. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Twenty-eight elite, visually impaired swimmers (19 males, 9 females) from the Brazilian Paralympic Team participated in this study. Twelve were visual class S11 (blind swimmers), 12 were S12 (low-vision swimmers), and 4 were S13 (low-vision swimmers). INTERVENTION(S) A standardized report form was used to collect data during 5 competitions. This was endorsed by 2 Brazilian sports governing bodies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The characteristics, prevalence, clinical incidence, and incidence rate of injuries were calculated. RESULTS Eighteen athletes reported 41 sports injuries, with a prevalence of 64%, clinical incidence of 1.5 injuries per athlete, and an incidence rate of 0.3 injuries per athlete per competition. Overuse injuries (80%) were more frequent than traumatic injuries (20%). The clinical incidence and prevalence varied according to sex and visual class, but no statistical differences were observed (P > .05). The highest proportion of injuries was in the trunk (46.34%), followed by the upper limbs (34.15%). The shoulders (29.27%) were most affected, followed by the thoracic (21.95%) and lumbar spine (17.07%). Spasm (36.59%) was the most frequent diagnosis, followed by tendinopathy (26.83%). CONCLUSIONS Visually impaired swimmers had a relatively high proportion of overuse injuries, predominantly associated with muscle spasm in the spine and tendinopathy in the shoulders. No differences were apparent in injury prevalence and clinical incidence among visual classes or between sexes.

Sports injuries in Brazilian blind footballers

The purpose of this study was to assess the characteristics and prevalence of sports-related injuries in visually disabled athletes of the Brazilian football 5-a-side team. The participants were 13 male athletes, all classified as B1 visual class, members of the Brazilian team, who played in five consecutive international competitions. Data were collected using the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and the Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Blind report form. From the total of 13 athletes, 11 succumbed to some form of injury during the 5 competitions, which incorporated 23 matches, representing a prevalence of 84.6%. A total of 35 sports injuries were recorded, giving a clinical incidence of 2.7 injuries per athlete and an injury risk of 0.85 and an incidence rate of 0.12 injuries per match. Traumatic injuries (80%) were more common than overuse injuries (20%) (p<0.05). The highest distribution of injury was in the lower limbs (80%), followed by the head (8.6%), spine (5.7%) and upper limbs (5.7%). The body regions most affected were the knee (28.6%), feet (17.1%), ankle (11.4%) and thigh (11.4%). Contusions (31.4%), sprains (25.7%) and tendinopathy (8.6%) were the most frequent diagnoses. This is the first study to describe the nature and prevalence of sports-related injuries in 5-a-side football in blind athletes. The results are important in guiding strategies to inform the implementation of preventive pathways and provide a strong rationale for the compulsory use of additional protective equipment.

Educação inclusiva: um estudo na área da educação física

O presente estudo teve por objetivo investigar os significados da inclusao de pessoas com necessidades especiais nas aulas de educacao fisica no sistema regular de ensino. A amostra foi constituida de 67 participantes, assistentes tecnicos pedagogicos de Educacao Fisica de Diretorias de Ensino do Estado de Sao Paulo. Trinta informantes eram do sexo masculino, 57 cursaram faculdades privadas e 10 publicas, 29 possuiam curso de especializacao, 57 tinham mais de 10 anos de experiencia na area da Educacao Fisica Escolar, 5 tinham entre 5 e 10 anos de experiencia e 5 entre 1 e 5 anos, a idade entre eles variou de 27 a 58 anos. Para coleta de dados foi utilizado como instrumento um questionario do tipo semi-estruturado, composto por 10 questoes fechadas e 4 abertas. Os resultados apontaram que cerca de 97% dos participantes nao possuiam conhecimentos suficientes para incluir alunos portadores de necessidades especiais nas aulas de Educacao Fisica e que tambem, por volta de 97%, acreditavam que a participacao do aluno portador de deficiencia em aulas de Educacao Fisica pode auxiliar na sua inclusao na comunidade escolar. Os resultados tambem indicaram que para realizar a inclusao os professores necessitam de: a) apoio do governo, no que se refere a oferecimento de cursos de reciclagem; b) auxilio tecnico pedagogico especializado; c) estrutura adaptada do espaco fisico; e d) material didatico adequado.The present study aimed to investigate the meaning of the inclusion of people with special needs in the Physical Education classes of the regular teaching system. The sample had 67 participants, technical pedagogical assistants of Physical Education of the Education Board Districts of the State of Sao Paulo. Thirty participants were male, 57 studied in private colleges and 10 in public colleges, 29 had specialization course, 57 had more than 10 years of experience in the area of physical education, 5 had between 5 and 10 years of experience and 5 between 1 to 5 years, ages varying from 27 to 58. A semi-structured questionnaire, composed of 10 closed questions and 4 open questions, was used for data collecting. The results pointed out that about 97% of the participants did not have enough knowledge to include bearers of special needs in the Physical Education classes and that about 97% believed that the participation of a student with deficiency in the Physical Education classes would help the inclusion of that pupil in the school community. The results also indicated that to carry out inclusion, teachers would need: a) government support to offer training courses; b) specialized technical pedagogical support; c) structure adapted to the physical space; and d) adequate didactical material.

Sports injuries in Paralympic track and field athletes with visual impairment

PURPOSE The aims of this study were to determine the epidemiology, nature, and pattern of sports injuries in Brazilian Paralympic track and field athletes with visual impairment and to assess differences between visual classes and sex. METHODS Forty visually impaired elite Paralympic athletes participated in this study (28 males and 12 females). All athletes competed in International Paralympic competitions between 2004 and 2008. According to the visual classification, 14 athletes were T/F11, 15 were T/F12, and 11 were T/F13. A standardized report form was used to collect injury data during five competitions. RESULTS Thirty-one athletes reported 77 sports injuries, with a prevalence of 78%, a clinical incidence of 1.93 injuries per athlete, and an incidence rate of 0.39 injuries per athlete per competition. Overuse injuries accounted for 82% and traumatic injuries 18% (P < 0.05). Small variations in the prevalence and clinical incidence of injury between sexes and visual classes were observed, but these were not statistically different (P > 0.05). The highest distribution of injury was in the lower limbs (87%), followed by spine (12%) and upper limbs (1%). The body regions most affected were the thighs (33.8%), lower legs (16.9%), and knees (9.1%). The most frequent diagnoses were spasms (26%), tendinopathies (23.4%), and strains (13%). CONCLUSIONS Elite visually impaired track and field Paralympic athletes present a pattern of overuse injuries predominantly affecting the lower limbs, particularly the thighs, lower legs, and knees. These injuries are associated with tendinopathies, muscle spasms, and strains. There were no apparent differences in injury characteristics between visual classes or sex.

Aspectos das lesões esportivas em atletas com deficiência visual

Most research on sport injuries in disabled athletes uses a cross-disability (physical and sensorial) design and merges different sport modalities in the same study. This procedure creates difficulties in interpreting the results, since different disabilities and modalities may cause different injury conditions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the sports injuries frequency in visually impaired athletes, to identify the site of the injury, its mechanism, and the main injuries that occur to these athletes as well as to verify if the visual class relates to the sports injury frequency. The subjects were male and female visually impaired athletes, members of the Brazilian team of athletics, soccer 5, goalball, judo, and swimming, who played in international competitions between 2004 and 2008. Data was collected using the Brazilian Paralympic Committee and the Brazilian Confederation of Sports for the Blind medical form, which included the following information: name, age, modality, competition, visual classification (B1, B2, B3), injury type, location of injury, and diagnosis. A total of 131 athletes participated in this study: 42 female, 89 male amongst which 61 were B1, 46 B2, and 24 B3. From this total, 102 athletes reported 288 sports injuries; 2.82 injuries per athlete. Female athletes presented more injuries than male athletes; however, this difference did not show statistical significance. Regarding visual classification, B1 athletes got more injuries than B2 athletes, and these more than B3 athletes; statistically significant difference was found only between B1 and B3 group. As one group, athletes presented similar values between accident and overuse injuries. Concerning body segment, lower limbs showed more injuries, followed by upper limbs, spine, head, and trunk. Twenty-one diagnoses were reported, being tendinopathies, contractures, and contusions the most frequent.

ENSINO DAS LUTAS: DOS PRINCÍPIOS CONDICIONAIS AOS GRUPOS SITUACIONAIS

This study sought to classify and identify common principles in the Martial Arts teaching. For that, we used semi structured interviews, with teachers and masters in different modalities. After the Contend Analysis of the data we realized that the Martial Arts have conditional principles (intentional contact, attack/defense fusion, opponent/target, unpredictability and rules) determinant for the understanding and reading of any combat’s internal dynamic. So we could classify the Martial Arts based on common and transferable denominators (situational groups) which can be taught before the specialized practice, looking forward to the students global development, not only the isolated repetition of the technical moves.

A percepção dos alunos com deficiência sobre a sua inclusão nas aulas de Educação Física escolar: um estudo de caso

The study aims to investigate the inclusion from the perspective of disabled students within the context of physical education classes. Participants were three female students between 12 and 21 years with physical disabilities or visual. The study used semi-structured interviews with pre-defined schedule and field records as measuring instruments. Inclusion in the context of physical education classes is linked to three key factors: adaptation, social participation and capacity. These factors act dependent and complementary to building a sense of belonging, acceptance and value within the group.

Força muscular de idosos com e sem depressão participantes de um programa de ginástica

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of an activity program on the hand grip strength of depressed and non-depressed elderly people. METHODS: We evaluated 85 older people (30 depressed women and 39 non-depressed women, and four depressed men and 12 non-depressed men) with a mean age of 65.59 (±8.26) years, who participated in an activity program developed for older people and lasting one year. In this period, four hand grip strength assessments were held: one at the beginning of the program, two during the program and one at the end. Data analysis was performed using Analysis of Variances, Tukeys test and t test. RESULTS: We did not find any significant differences among the four evaluations in terms of strength in the total group and in the subgroups. Moreover, there were no significant differences between the depressed women and the non-depressed women, or between the depressed men and the non-depressed men, in any one of the four evaluations. CONCLUSIONS: The activity program evaluated was incapable of increasing the hand grip strength of the depressed and non-depressed older people and it appears there is no association between such condition and strength.

A participação de alunos com síndrome de Down nas aulas de Educação Física Escolar: Um estudo de caso

The objective of this study was to observe real-world inclusion of children with Down Syndrome (SD) in physical education classes in school. Furthermore, we identified possible hindering and facilitating factors during classes. This analysis was performed through systematic observation of physical education classes during the school year. Thirty-three (20 boys and 13 girls) 3 rd grade students served as subjects for this study. The student with SD did not show difficulties in understanding and performing activities during practice. However, he did not easily establish social relationships with his peers.

A exclusão nas aulas de educação física: fatores associados com participação de alunos com deficiência

O estudo tem como objetivo analisar os fatores relacionados com a exclusao do aluno com deficiencia nas aulas de educacao fisica. O estudo contou com a participacao de tres estudantes (entre 12 e 21 anos) com deficiencia visual ou fisica. Foram utilizados a entrevista semi-estruturada e anotacoes de campo como instrumentos de medida. As entrevistas seguiram roteiro pre-estruturado com questoes relativas a percepcao subjetiva de exclusao para o aluno com deficiencia. Para estes, a exclusao esta associada com a falta de adaptacao nas aulas, isolamento social e sentimento de inferioridade. Estes tres fatores se apresentam de forma associada e conjunta.