Study by Victoria L. Goosey-Tolfrey
Loughborough University
Jeanette Crosland
British Paralympic Performance Services
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Little info on dietary habits of wheelchair
dependent participants (WDP).
Data that does exist does not apply to WDP
who participate in sport.
Information collected can help to increase
athletic performance of WDP.
Studies have shown that individuals who are
wheel chair dependent have an increased level
of body fat when compared to able bodied
individuals.
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23 British wheelchair game players
12 basketball players & 11 tennis players
14 females & 9 males
Ages 19-41
Wheelchair needed for at least 60% of daily
living.
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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
Brittle Bones
Multiple Sclerosis
Lower limb nerve damage
Dystrophic Dysplacia
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Food diaries taken for 7 consecutive days
Daily Activity Logs also taken
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Poor relationship between energy intake and
energy expenditure (# of hours training)
Female groups reported even lower energy
intakes when compared to men in reference to
ratio of energy intake and expenditure
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There are still no dietary recommendations for
individuals involved in wheelchair sport
Able bodied athletic diets have been in use as a
guideline for WDP
However, according to current
recommendations for sport, these participants
would need to double their carbohydrate
intake when considering their low energy
consumption.