Sports nutrition knowledge in athletes with a spinal cord injury and coaches of para sports

• Published in: Applied physiology, nutrition, and metabolism nutrition, and metabolism, 2022-11, Vol.47 (11), p.1075-1084
• Main Authors: Madden, Robyn F., Lalonde-Bester, Sophie, Manocha, Ranita H.K., Martin, Julia M., Flueck, Joelle Leonie, Hertig-Godeschalk, Anneke, Shearer, Jane, Parnell, Jill A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Athletes with disabilities; Care and treatment; Coaching; Diagnosis; Dietary supplements; Disabled athletes; Food and nutrition; Health aspects; Knowledge; Nutrition; Questionnaires; Spinal cord injuries; Sports nutrition
• ISSN: 1715-5312; 1715-5320
• DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2022-0251

Sports nutrition for athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI) is complex, making it challenging for athletes to stay informed. The aim of this study was to assess sports nutrition knowledge in athletes with an SCI and coaches of para sports. The secondary aim was to report sources of sports nutrition information. Eighty athletes and 26 coaches across various adapted sports were recruited. The Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess nutrition knowledge for both groups. Athletes achieved their highest score among the alcohol (65 [+ or -] 19%) category and the lowest in sports nutrition (43 [+ or -] 17%). Coaches demonstrated the most knowledge in the alcohol (73 [+ or -] 17%) category and lowest knowledge in the supplementation (45 [+ or -] 19%) category. Both groups relied on the internet, dietitians, and coaches for sports nutrition information. Future studies should explore the effects of nutrition education on nutrition knowledge and dietary intakes among these populations. Key words: para athlete, sport performance, nutrition education, para coaches, spinal cord injury La nutrition sportive pour les athletes presentant une lesion de la moelle epiniere (>) est complexe, ce qui rend difficile pour les athletes de rester informes. Le but de cette etude etait d'evaluer les connaissances en nutrition sportive chez les athletes aux prises avec une lesion medullaire et les entraineurs de parasports. L'objectif secondaire etait de rapporter les sources d'information sur la nutrition sportive. Nous avons recrute quatre-vingts athletes et vingt-six entraineurs de divers sports adaptes. Le Nutrition for Sport Knowledge Questionnaire (Questionnaire sur les connaissances en nutrition sportive) a ete utilise pour evaluer les connaissances nutritionnelles des deux groupes. Les athletes ont obtenu leur score le plus eleve dans la categorie alcool (65 [+ or -] 19 %) et le plus bas dans la categorie nutrition sportive (43 [+ or -] 17 %). Les entraineurs ont demontre le plus de connaissances dans la categorie alcool (73 [+ or -] 17 %) et les connaissances les plus faibles dans la categorie supplementation (45 [+ or -] 19 %). Les deux groupes se sont appuyes sur Internet, les dieteticiens et les entraineurs pour obtenir des informations sur la nutrition sportive. Les etudes futures devraient explorer les effets de l'education nutritionnelle sur les connaissances nutritionnelles et les apports alimentaires au sein de ces populations. [Traduit