Métodos de mensuração de força muscular na classificação funcional de esportes paralímpicos de verão - Revisão de literatura

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The current Paralympic functional classification system has been undergoing constant restructuring, seeking to develop and implement tests that are accurate, consistent and based on scientific evidence, since manual muscle strength assessment tests have little reproducibility among classifiers. OBJECTIVE: To identify muscle strength assessment tests for the Paralympic functional classification of athletes with physical disabilities in Paralympic summer sports. DESIGN: Narrative literature review. METHODOLOGY: The research investigated national and international studies published in the MEDLINE, Embase and SciELO databases from 2010 to May 2020, using terms related to muscle strength measurement methods in the Paralympic functional classification. Cross-sectional, randomized and case studies (more than two people) were included. RESULTS: A total of 2,479 articles were found, and only 8 articles addressed the exploration theme of the present literature review study. The selected studies were published from 2011 to 2019 and the modalities evaluated in the articles were: athletics, wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and swimming. Regarding muscle strength assessment methods, studies were found with manual dynamometers, load cells, strain gauge and with the Biodex System-3 equipment (operating in isometric mode). CONCLUSION: The assessment methods found showed satisfactory and promising results in the search for evidence-based classification. However, further research is needed in different modalities and populations, with larger sample numbers and universal instruments, low cost, easy to apply and reproduce.