{"id":{"repo_id":"uoit","oai_identifier":"oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1970"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/uoit/oai:ontariotechu.scholaris.ca:10155/1970","repository":{"repo_id":"uoit","name":"Ontario Institute of Technology","base_url":"https://ontariotechu.scholaris.ca/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Thermoregulation, fluid balance, and reliability in paralympic sport: exploring core temperature responses, hydration habits, and mobility performance assessments","abstract":"This thesis investigates the physiological challenges faced by Para athletes, focusing on thermoregulation, hydration, and the reliability of performance assessments. Four key objectives were addressed: (1) to characterize hydration habits and fluid balance in female para hockey players during competition in a cool environment, (2) to examine the thermal demands and mobility performance of wheelchair rugby (WCR) athletes during international competition, (3) to evaluate the repeatability of anaerobic and aerobic mobility performance tests in athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and (4) to assess the reliability of time-to-exhaustion (TTE) performance and thermoregulatory responses in athletes with cervical SCI (cSCI). The findings revealed that female para hockey players exhibited hydration habits similar to able-bodied athletes, with notable variability in fluid intake and sweat loss. In WCR athletes, thermal stress was strongly associated with game duration, highlighting the need for individualized hydration and thermal management strategies. A systematic review of performance tests demonstrated high reliability for shorter-duration, linear tasks but greater variability in complex, pivoting movements and aerobic tasks. Finally, TTE tests using an arm-ergometer at lactate threshold one (LT1) in athletes with cSCI, showed consistent maximal thermoregulatory responses but emphasized caution in estimating aerobic performance due to higher variability. These results provide actionable insights for optimizing training, competition strategies, and safety protocols, contributing to a deeper understanding of Para athlete performance.","abstract_html":"This thesis investigates the physiological challenges faced by Para athletes, focusing on thermoregulation, hydration, and the reliability of performance assessments. Four key objectives were addressed: (1) to characterize hydration habits and fluid balance in female para hockey players during competition in a cool environment, (2) to examine the thermal demands and mobility performance of wheelchair rugby (WCR) athletes during international competition, (3) to evaluate the repeatability of anaerobic and aerobic mobility performance tests in athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and (4) to assess the reliability of time-to-exhaustion (TTE) performance and thermoregulatory responses in athletes with cervical SCI (cSCI). The findings revealed that female para hockey players exhibited hydration habits similar to able-bodied athletes, with notable variability in fluid intake and sweat loss. In WCR athletes, thermal stress was strongly associated with game duration, highlighting the need for individualized hydration and thermal management strategies. A systematic review of performance tests demonstrated high reliability for shorter-duration, linear tasks but greater variability in complex, pivoting movements and aerobic tasks. Finally, TTE tests using an arm-ergometer at lactate threshold one (LT1) in athletes with cSCI, showed consistent maximal thermoregulatory responses but emphasized caution in estimating aerobic performance due to higher variability. These results provide actionable insights for optimizing training, competition strategies, and safety protocols, contributing to a deeper understanding of Para athlete performance.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gavel, Erica Heidi"],"institution":"University of Ontario Institute of Technology","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":"Applied Bioscience","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Logan-Sprenger , Heather"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2025,"date_issued":"2025-06-01","date_published":"2025-06-01","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:32Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1970","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Logan-Sprenger , Heather"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gavel, Erica Heidi"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2025-07-22T16:02:40Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2025-07-22T16:02:40Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2025-06-01"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Applied Bioscience"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["University of Ontario Institute of Technology"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1970"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis investigates the physiological challenges faced by Para athletes, focusing on thermoregulation, hydration, and the reliability of performance assessments. Four key objectives were addressed: (1) to characterize hydration habits and fluid balance in female para hockey players during competition in a cool environment, (2) to examine the thermal demands and mobility performance of wheelchair rugby (WCR) athletes during international competition, (3) to evaluate the repeatability of anaerobic and aerobic mobility performance tests in athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and (4) to assess the reliability of time-to-exhaustion (TTE) performance and thermoregulatory responses in athletes with cervical SCI (cSCI). The findings revealed that female para hockey players exhibited hydration habits similar to able-bodied athletes, with notable variability in fluid intake and sweat loss. In WCR athletes, thermal stress was strongly associated with game duration, highlighting the need for individualized hydration and thermal management strategies. A systematic review of performance tests demonstrated high reliability for shorter-duration, linear tasks but greater variability in complex, pivoting movements and aerobic tasks. Finally, TTE tests using an arm-ergometer at lactate threshold one (LT1) in athletes with cSCI, showed consistent maximal thermoregulatory responses but emphasized caution in estimating aerobic performance due to higher variability. These results provide actionable insights for optimizing training, competition strategies, and safety protocols, contributing to a deeper understanding of Para athlete performance."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Thermoregulation, fluid balance, and reliability in paralympic sport: exploring core temperature responses, hydration habits, and mobility performance assessments"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Logan-Sprenger , Heather"],"dc:creator":["Gavel, Erica Heidi"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2025-07-22T16:02:40Z"],"dc:date.available":["2025-07-22T16:02:40Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2025-06-01"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis investigates the physiological challenges faced by Para athletes, focusing on thermoregulation, hydration, and the reliability of performance assessments. Four key objectives were addressed: (1) to characterize hydration habits and fluid balance in female para hockey players during competition in a cool environment, (2) to examine the thermal demands and mobility performance of wheelchair rugby (WCR) athletes during international competition, (3) to evaluate the repeatability of anaerobic and aerobic mobility performance tests in athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and (4) to assess the reliability of time-to-exhaustion (TTE) performance and thermoregulatory responses in athletes with cervical SCI (cSCI). The findings revealed that female para hockey players exhibited hydration habits similar to able-bodied athletes, with notable variability in fluid intake and sweat loss. In WCR athletes, thermal stress was strongly associated with game duration, highlighting the need for individualized hydration and thermal management strategies. A systematic review of performance tests demonstrated high reliability for shorter-duration, linear tasks but greater variability in complex, pivoting movements and aerobic tasks. Finally, TTE tests using an arm-ergometer at lactate threshold one (LT1) in athletes with cSCI, showed consistent maximal thermoregulatory responses but emphasized caution in estimating aerobic performance due to higher variability. These results provide actionable insights for optimizing training, competition strategies, and safety protocols, contributing to a deeper understanding of Para athlete performance."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://hdl.handle.net/10155/1970"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:title":["Thermoregulation, fluid balance, and reliability in paralympic sport: exploring core temperature responses, hydration habits, and mobility performance assessments"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Applied Bioscience"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"],"thesis:institution_name":["University of Ontario Institute of Technology"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:32Z"}