Disability sport science is a dynamic and rapidly evolving field, with advancements occurring across a wide range of research areas. However, the unique needs of athletes with disabilities - and the theoretical and practical knowledge required to support them - are still underrepresented in the literature.
The book covers current research in a wide range of sport, exercise, training and health-related topic areas related to disability sport science and identifies future research directions. Key knowledge is gleaned from research within sport, exercise, rehabilitation and medicine and is brought together in one single resource, covering both current and future relevance for researchers, students and practitioners alike.
The Routledge Handbook of Disability Sport Science is the first book to offer a comprehensive and in-depth review of current and emerging topics within disability sport science and provides a complete overview of academic and professional knowledge, divided into six sections covering the following topics:
- Physiology
- Biomechanics
- Technology
- Nutrition
- Physical Preparation, Health and Classification
- Psychology
Written by an international team of leading experts from academia and professional practice, the book is an essential reference for researchers, academics and students of disability sport science and related disciplines alike, as well as anyone working, or wanting to work, in disability sport.
Katy Griggs is a Principal Lecturer in Sport Engineering and Exercise Physiology in the Department of Engineering at Nottingham Trent University, UK. She has expertise in the areas of Paralympic/disability sport, human performance and environmental physiology and has studied the thermoregulatory responses of athletes with a spinal cord injury. Her research focuses on the physiological and ergonomic impact of technology, clothing and equipment on human performance.
Ursina Arnet is a senior researcher in Human Movement Sciences and head of the Neuro-Musculoskeletal Functioning and Mobility group at Swiss Paraplegic Research, Switzerland. She has been involved in several research programs with the focus on improving the functioning and mobility of persons with SCI in a daily life setting. Her areas of expertise are shoulder biomechanics, sensor-based evaluation of daily life behaviour (wheelchair mobility, pressure relief performance) and lab-based evaluation of wheelchair and handcycle propulsion.
Rienk van der Slikke is a researcher specialising in wheelchair sports performance and wearable sensor technology. He is affiliated with The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands and TU Delft, Netherlands and holds a fellowship at the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport at Loughborough University, UK. His work includes the development of methods for measuring wheelchair mobility performance during field sports and exploring the relationship between impairments and athletic performance. That expertise and the developed methodologies are used to enhance the daily mobility and self-reliance of wheelchair users, bridging the gap between sports performance and everyday wheelchair use.
Joelle Leonie Flueck, PhD, serves as the President of the Swiss Sports Nutrition Society and is a researcher and sports nutritionist based in Switzerland. With over a decade of dedicated research in sports nutrition for Paralympic athletes, she has contributed work on optimising performance and health for athletes with spinal cord injuries. As a trusted counsellor to some of the world's top Paralympic and Olympic athletes, she combines scientific rigor with practical expertise to deliver evidence-based solutions tailored to individual needs.
