Exploratory Assessment of Health-Related Parameters in World-Class Boccia Players Using DXA

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Disability Sport

Background:

• Sport is crucial for health promotion in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP).
• Non-ambulatory athletes with CP face unique health and performance risks.
• Boccia is a key sport for athletes with CP, highlighting the need to understand their specific physiological profiles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate body composition and bone health in elite Boccia players with CP.
• To identify potential health-related risk factors in this specific athletic population.

Main Methods:

• Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) was used to assess body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) and content (BMC).
• Key metrics included fat mass index (kg/m²), BMD Z-score, and appendicular lean mass index.
• Five BC2-class Boccia players with CP, aged 15-42, participated in the study.

Main Results:

• Two players (1 and 3) presented with obesity class 1 and low BMD Z-scores.
• One player (5) displayed multiple health risk factors.
• Data from younger players (2 and 4) require cautious interpretation due to preliminary nature.

Conclusions:

• Boccia players with CP may benefit from multidisciplinary team monitoring.
• Supplementary strategies like strength training and personalized nutrition are suggested to improve quality of life and performance.
• Further research is necessary to validate these preliminary findings and inform broader recommendations.