Ready , set , go : researching for a new Paralympic sport
HAVE YOU HEARD about RaceRunning ? The sport
was invented in Denmark the ‘ 90s by two Paralympic athletes and it enables people with limited mobility to swap their wheelchairs or walking aids for a running frame so they can get moving . The running frame ( sometimes called a running bike ) doesn ’ t have any pedals but it does have three wheels , a saddle and trunk support , so it supports users while they walk or run . RaceRunning has been gaining in popularity , with clubs and competitions popping up around the world , for a while now . In 2019 it made its debut into the world of international sporting competition at the World Para Athletic Championships in Dubai , and on 20 November 2020 it was announced that RaceRunning ( recently renamed Frame Running ) is on the provisional programme for the Paralympic games in Paris 2024 . QMU ’ s Dr Marietta van der Linden , a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Health Sciences , has been working - in partnership with a colleague at the University of Edinburgh and a physiotherapist from RaceRunning Scotland , and the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association - on developing a classification system that would enable RaceRunning to be a potential Paralympic event . Dr van der Linden said : “ All sports in the Paralympics need a classification system which is based on scientific evidence . A classification system assesses the extent of an athlete ’ s impairment and groups together athletes based on this assessment . This is about ensuring it ’ s a fair competition and only those with comparable abilities are competing against each other . “ The classification system to assess RaceRunning athletes , which I ’ ve been working on with my colleagues , includes measures that are commonly used by physiotherapists such as spasticity ( stiffness in muscles of which gets worse with faster movements ) and selective motor control ( the ability to make a movement in one joint without moving others ). Simple movements which we all take for granted such as kicking a ball , let alone running , can therefore be very challenging for people with a coordination impairment such as cerebral palsy ,” Dr van der Linden explained .
“ But the value of RaceRunning isn ’ t just in the opportunity for people with severe physical impairments to become internationally-recognised athletes . Increased awareness of RaceRunning could mean those with a range of mobility issues – including people recovering from a stroke and those living with osteoarthritis , multiple sclerosis , Parkinson ’ s disease or muscular dystrophy – might try out the sport and enjoy the physical , mental health and social benefits . “ We ’ ve seen this happen locally when Enjoy Leisure East Lothian received some fantastic funding support from community groups , including Rotary , to purchase RaceRunning frames for local users . It ’ s brilliant to see the enjoyment and self-esteem benefits people with mobility challenges get from recreational RaceRunning . And I ’ m very proud of the QMU Physiotherapy students who volunteer down at the leisure centre ’ s track to help get people moving on the running frames ,” Dr van der Linden added . ❒
QMYOU / Making a Difference in Healthcare 25