A complete psychophysiological profile of a Paralympic athlete in a ultraendurance: A case study

Abstract

Psychophysiological response of athletes with spinal cord injurie has not been reported yet in scientific literature. The aim of this study is to analyze the specific psychophysiological response in a Paralympic athlete during competitive activities. We collected the following psychophysiological measurements: anxiety-trait, anxiety-state, locus of control, perceived psychological stress, stress-copying style, rate of perceived exertion, perceived muscle pain, body temperature, forced vital capacity, blood oxygen saturation, blood glucose and lactate concentrations, isometric hand strength, cortical arousal, heart rate variability, heart rate and velocities of a female Paralympic spinal cord injured athlete in a 11 hours and 44 minutes mountain ultraendurance event. An increase in sympathetic autonomous nervous system, heart rate, lactate, muscular pain and rated of perceived exertion and a decrease in cortical arousal and hand strength and inspiratory muscle fatigue. These results are consistent with the expected response during a highly stressful situation and consistent with previous findings in athletes without spinal cord injurie.