Training practices of male and female para athletics throwers: from developmental to world-class levels
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v66.110399Keywords:
track and field, athletic performance, human physical conditioning, disabled persons, sports for persons with disabilities, adaptive sports, para-athletesAbstract
Introduction: A better understanding of Para Athletics throwers (PAT) training practices is in line with the development and optimization of their training programs, able to produce peak performances across varying competitive levels.
Objective: Investigate the PAT training practices.
Methodology: Male (n=42) and female (n=18) PAT completed an online questionnaire regarding descriptive characteristics (e.g., age, height, weight, throwing event) and training practices (e.g., experience, duration, frequency, strength and conditioning). PAT were classified into world-class, international, national, or developmental level, and thereafter re-classified (to increase statistical power, i.e., Mann-Whitney U test) into world/international or national/developmental.
Results: Most males (92.86%) and all females performed strength and conditioning at the gym, with no differences in gym training frequency between sexes (p=0.221). World-class PAT had significantly more years of experience compared to other levels (p<0.001), though there were no differences in the frequency (p=0.400) or duration (p=0.502) of throwing sessions. Males trained for longer session durations than females (p=0.001), while training frequency did not differ between them (p=0.075).
Conclusions: While elite athletes had greater training experience compared to lower-competitive levels, there were no differences in training frequency or duration across competitive levels. However, when comparing sexes, males generally trained for longer durations per session than females, but training frequency did not differ between them. Most training characteristics, including strength and conditioning practices and throwing training, were similar between sexes and across competitive levels. These findings emphasize the need for individualized training programs to optimize PAT performance.
References
Anousaki, E., Zaras, N., Stasinaki, A.-N., Panidi, I., Terzis, G., & Karampatsos, G. (2021). Effects of a 25-Week Periodized Training Macrocycle on Muscle Strength, Power, Muscle Architecture, and Performance in Well-Trained Track and Field Throwers. J. Strength Cond. Res., 35(10), 2728-2736. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004098
Cavaggioni, L., Trecroci, A., Formenti, D., Hogarth, L., Tosin, M., & Alberti, G. (2021). Seasonal Changes in Breathing Pattern, Trunk Stabilization, and Muscular Power in Paralympic Swimmers. Adapt. Phys. Activ. Q., 38(2), 215-231. https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.2020-0088
Cools, A. M., Johansson, F. R., Borms, D., & Maenhout, A. (2015). Prevention of shoulder injuries in overhead athletes: a science-based approach. Braz. J. Phys. Ther., 19(5), 331-339. https://doi.org/10.1590/bjpt-rbf.2014.0109
Dean, N. A., Bundon, A., Howe, P. D., & Abele, N. (2022). Gender Parity, False Starts, and Promising Practices in the Paralympic Movement. Sociol. Sport J., 39(3), 221-230. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2021-0030
DeWeese, B. H., Hornsby, G., Stone, M., & Stone, M. H. (2015). The training process: Planning for strength–power training in track and field. Part 2: Practical and applied aspects. J. Sport Health Sci., 4(4), 318-324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2015.07.002
Garcia-Carrillo, E., Gallardo-Fuentes, F., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Carter-Thuillier, B., Thapa, R. K., & Zaras, N. (2024). Evaluation of physical fitness in track and field throwing athletes across different competitive levels. J. Phys. Educ. Sport., 24(3), 552-559. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2024.03066
Garcia-Carrillo, E., & Ramirez-Campillo, R. (2020). Peaking for the World Para Athletics Championships: Case Study of a World Champion Female Paralympic Shot Putter. J. Hum. Sport. Exerc., 15(4), S1204-S1213. https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2020.15.Proc4.22
Garcia-Carrillo, E., Ramirez-Campillo, R., Thapa, R. K., Afonso, J., Granacher, U., & Izquierdo, M. (2023). Effects of Upper-Body Plyometric Training on Physical Fitness in Healthy Youth and Young Adult Participants: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. - Open, 9(1), 93. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00631-2
Garcia-Carrillo, E., Ramirez-Campillo, R., & Winckler, C. (2024). Scientific production on Para Athletics: A bibliometric review. Int. J. Disabil. Sports Health Sci., 7(5), 1199-1206. https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1488551
Garcia-Carrillo, E., Silva, B., Zaras, N., Azocar-Gallardo, J., Yáñez-Sepúlveda, R., & Ramirez-Campillo, R. (2024). Prevalence of sports injuries in Para Athletics throwers - a retrospective cohort study. Adv. Rehab., 38(3), 7-15. https://doi.org/10.5114/areh.2024.142493
Hanton, S., Neil, R., Mellalieu, S. D., & Fletcher, D. (2008). Competitive experience and performance status: An investigation into multidimensional anxiety and coping. Eur. J. Sport Sci., 8(3), 143-152. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461390801987984
Ikeda, Y., Miyatsuji, K., Kawabata, K., Fuchimoto, T., & Ito, A. (2009). Analysis of Trunk Muscle Activity in the Side Medicine-Ball Throw. J. Strength Cond. Res., 23(8), 2231-2240. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b8676f
International Paralympic Committee. (2024). World Para Athletics rules and regulations 2024.
Kettunen, J. A., Kujala, U., Sarna, S., & Kaprio, J. (2011). Cumulative incidence of shoulder region tendon injuries in male former elite athletes. Int. J. Sports Med., 32(6), 451-454. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1273701
Kraemer, W. J., & Ratamess, N. A. (2004). Fundamentals of resistance training: progression and exercise prescription. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., 36(4), 674-688. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000121945.36635.61
Kyriazis, T. A., Terzis, G., Boudolos, K., & Georgiadis, G. (2009). Muscular power, neuromuscular activation, and performance in shot put athletes at preseason and at competition period. J. Strength Cond. Res., 23(6), 1773-1779. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e3181b3f91e
Martínez-García, D., Chirosa Ríos, L., Rodriguez-Perea, A., Ulloa-Díaz, D., Jerez-Mayorga, D., & Chirosa Ríos, I. (2021). Strength training for throwing velocity enhancement in overhead throw: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int. J. Sports Sci. Coach., 16(5), 1223-1235. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541211002977
Matos, S., Silva, B., Clemente, F. M., & Pereira, J. (2021). Running-related injuries in Portuguese trail runners: a retrospective cohort study. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fitness, 61(3), 420-427. https://doi.org/10.23736/s0022-4707.20.11304-5
McKay, A. K. A., Stellingwerff, T., Smith, E. S., Martin, D. T., Mujika, I., Goosey-Tolfrey, V. L., Sheppard, J., & Burke, L. M. (2022). Defining training and performance caliber: A participant classification framework. Int. J. Sports Physiol. Perform., 17(2), 317-331. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2021-0451
Oggero, G., Puli, L., Smith, E. M., & Khasnabis, C. (2021). Participation and Achievement in the Summer Paralympic Games: The Influence of Income, Sex, and Assistive Technology. Sustainability, 13(21), 11758. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111758
Rodríguez Macías, M., Giménez Fuentes-Guerra, F. J., & Abad Robles, M. T. (2022). The Sport Training Process of Para-Athletes: A Systematic Review. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 19(12), 7242. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127242
Suchomel, T. J., Nimphius, S., & Stone, M. H. (2016). The Importance of Muscular Strength in Athletic Performance. Sports Med., 46(10), 1419-1449. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0486-0
Terzis, G., Stratakos, G., Manta, P., & Georgiadis, G. (2008). Throwing performance after resistance training and detraining. J. Strength Cond. Res., 22(4), 1198-1204. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0b013e31816d5c97
Zaras, N. D., Stasinaki, A. N., Methenitis, S. K., Krase, A. A., Karampatsos, G. P., Georgiadis, G. V., Spengos, K. M., & Terzis, G. D. (2016). Rate of force development, muscle architecture, and performance in young competitive track and field throwers. J. Strength Cond. Res., 30(1), 81-92. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001048
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Exal Garcia-Carrillo, Bruno Silva, Nikolaos Zaras, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and ensure the magazine the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of authorship of the work and the initial publication in this magazine.
- Authors can establish separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Is allowed and authors are encouraged to disseminate their work electronically (eg, in institutional repositories or on their own website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as to a subpoena more Early and more of published work (See The Effect of Open Access) (in English).
This journal provides immediate open access to its content (BOAI, http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/boaifaq.htm#openaccess) on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The authors may download the papers from the journal website, or will be provided with the PDF version of the article via e-mail.
