Energy Availability in Male and Female Elite Wheelchair Athletes Over Seven Consecutive Training Days

Overview

Low energy availability (LEA) is a major problem in sports as athletes ingest often a lower amount of energy compared to their actual needs. The availability of energy is calculated based on their daily energy intake and the energy cost of the daily training sessions in relation to their fat-free mass. Based on this calculation, it is known how much energy will available for the body (beside the fuel for training) to keep it in optimal physiological functioning. It has been shown, that LEA occurs very often in female athletes, in endurance athletes as well as athletes in weight-sensitive sports (i.e. jockeys, combat sports, gymnastics, ballet). The purpose of this study was to investigate, whether LEA is a problem in wheelchair athletes as well.

Full Title of Study: “Energy Availability in Wheelchair Athletes”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Observational
  • Study Design
    • Time Perspective: Prospective
  • Study Primary Completion Date: March 1, 2020

Detailed Description

Energy availability will be assessed over 7 consecutive training days using a dietary and training record as well as the Leisure Time PHysical Activity Questionnaire for spinal cord injury. Resting Energy expenditure will be measured as well as body composition (by a DXA) before the start of data collection.

Interventions

  • Other: evaluating energy availability
    • energy availability will be determined by measuring energy intake, exercise energy expenditure and fat-free mass and using the following formula: energy availability = (energy intake – exercise energy expenditure) / fat-free mass

Arms, Groups and Cohorts

  • Male wheelchair athletes
    • Other
  • Female wheelchair athletes
    • Other

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • energy availability
    • Time Frame: 7 consecutive days during pre-season
    • energy availability = (energy intake – exercise energy expenditure) / fat-free mass. Energy intake and exercise energy expenditure are measured using a food and training diary. The fat-free mass will be measured using a DXA scan.

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • athletes from a national team in wheelchair sports Exclusion Criteria:

  • unable to follow normal training routine – unable to record diet or training

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: 60 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Joelle Flueck, PhD, Principal Investigator, Swiss Paraplegic Centre

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