Brendan Burkett

University of the Sunshine Coast | USC · School of Health and Sport Sciences

Purpose: The impact of physical impairment on Froude efficiency and intra-cyclic velocity fluctuation in Para swimmers is not well documented. Identification of differences in these variables between disabled and non-disabled swimmers could help develop a more objective system for assigning Para swimmers to classes for competition. This study quan...

The inherent hydrodynamic resistance force, or passive drag, of a swimmer directly influences how they move through the water. For swimmers with physical impairments the strength of association between passive drag and swimming performance is unknown. Knowledge on this factor could improve the World Para Swimming classification process. This study...

The current protocol for classifying Para swimmers with hypertonia, ataxia and athetosis involves a physical assessment where the individual’s ability to coordinate their limbs is scored by subjective clinical judgment. The lack of objective measurement renders the current test unsuitable for evidence-based classification. This study evaluated a re...

Background There is limited information on the physique attributes of female netball players from the highest playing standards and the typical body composition changes that occur with training and competition in these athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the body composition of professional female netball players and changes that occ...

This study is the first to provide information on the age‐related trajectories of performance in Para swimmers with physical, vision and intellectual impairment. Race times from long‐course swim meets between 2009 and 2019 were obtained for Para swimmers with an eligible impairment. A subset of 10661 times from 411 Para swimmers were included in li...

Ten participants were assessed while walking in water and on land with wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) attached to the right thigh. Longitudinal acceleration, anterior-posterior acceleration, and frontal axis angular velocity were measured at 100 Hz, matched with video analysis sampled at 25 Hz during the walking trials. The longitudinal...

Swimmers with limb deficiency are a core population within Para Swimming, accordingly this study examined the contribution of limb segments to race performance in these swimmers. Data were obtained for 174 male Para swimmers with limb deficiency. Ensemble partial least squares regression showed accurate predictions when using relative limb segment...

The assessment of swimming propulsion should be a cornerstone of Paralympic swimming classification. However, current methods do not objectively account for this component. Purpose: To evaluate the swimming propulsion of swimmers with and without physical impairment using a 30-second maximal fully tethered freestyle swim test. Methods: Tethered...

Introduction: Paralympic classification should provide athletes with an equitable starting point for competition by minimising the impact their impairment has on the outcome of the event. As swimming is an event conducted in water, the ability to overcome drag (active and passive) is an important performance determinant. It is plausible that the a...

BACKGROUND: Evidences of sustainable clinical benefits of bone-anchored prosthesis (BAP) using osseointegrated fixation over typical socket-suspended prostheses are becoming more probing. This influx of individuals to be fitted with BAP has pressed government organisations to adjust their policies. However, the appraisal of consumer’s experience fo...

Objectives The International Paralympic Committee has mandated that International Sport Federations develop sport-specific classification systems that are evidence-based. This study examined the predictive and convergent validity of instrumented tapping tasks to classify motor coordination impairments in Para swimming. Design Cross-sectional. Met...

Objectives: The International Paralympic Committee has mandated that International Sport Federations develop sport-specific classification systems that are evidence-based. This study examined the predictive and convergent validity of instrumented tapping tasks to classify motor coordination impairments in Para swimming. Design: Cross-sectional. Met...

Coaching is a critical factor in the development, training and success of athletes, yet coaching of athletes with disability is significantly underrepresented in the research literature. This research explored the education, training and professional development experiences of coaches of elite athletes with disability. Semi-structured interviews we...

Sport for elite athletes with disability is gaining recognition comparable to its non-disabled counterpart, with Paralympians considered among the world’s elite athletes. The value of sports coaching to the development, training and success of athletes with disability is similarly recognised. This research explored the views and experiences of admi...

This study examined the validity of isometric strength tests for evidence-based classification in Para swimming. Thirty non-disabled participants and forty-two Para swimmers with physical impairment completed an isometric strength test battery designed to explain activity limitation in the freestyle discipline. Measures pertaining to dominant and n...

The International Paralympic Committee has directed International Federations that govern Para sports to develop evidence‐based classification systems. This study defined the impact of limb deficiency impairment on 100 m freestyle performance to guide an evidence‐based classification system in Para Swimming, which will be implemented following the...

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability of swimming-specific range of movement tests developed in order to permit evidenced-based classification in the sport of para swimming. Design: Test-retest intra- and inter-examiner reliability. Setting: International Swimming training camps and university exercise science departments. Participants: 42...

Background: In principle, lower limb bone-anchored prostheses could alleviate expenditure associated with typical socket manufacturing and residuum treatments due to socket-suspended prostheses. Objective: This study reports (a) the incremental costs and (b) heath gain as well as (c) cost-effectiveness of bone-anchored prostheses compared to soc...

Aquatic exercises can be used in clinical and sporting disciplines for both rehabilitation and sports training. However, there is limited knowledge on the influence of water immersion on the kinematics of exercises commonly used in rehabilitation and fitness programs. The aim of this study was to use inertial sensors to quantify differences in kine...

Movement variability (%) for the three segments in the environments. CV–Coefficient of variance, CVp−Coefficient of variance for pattern, CVO−Coefficient of variance for offset (DOCX)

Mean (SD) range of motion and the movement variability (%) between the two environments during the concentric phase of the movement. CV, coefficient of variability Positive percentages indicate larger movement variability in the aquatic environment, and negative percentages indicates larger movement variability on land. * indicates significant diff...

Mean (SD) peak velocity between the two environments during the concentric phase of the movement. X, Extension Y, Abduction Z, External rotation. CV, coefficient of variability. Positive percentages indicate larger movement variability in the aquatic environment, and negative percentages indicates larger movement variability on land. * indicates si...

Displacement waveforms of frontal plane movements for the three segments between land- and aquatic-based squats. Average frontal plane displacement on land (solid line) ±95% confidence limits (green area), and in water (dashed line) ±95% confidence limits (blue area) for thorax, thigh, and shank segments during the squat, split squat, and single le...

Displacement waveforms of sagittal plane movements for the three segments between land- and aquatic-based squats. Average sagittal plane displacement on land (solid line) ±95% confidence limits (green area), and in water (dashed line) ±95% confidence limits (blue area) for thorax, thigh, and shank segments during the squat, split squat, and single...

Introduction This observational study compared historical costs for provision of socket prostheses with simulated costs for bone-anchored prostheses (BAPs). Materials and Methods The costs of transfemoral socket prostheses and BAP were extracted from the Queensland Artificial Limb Service's regulatory documentation according to K-levels and estima...

Background Governmental organizations are facing challenges in adjusting procedures providing equitable assistance to consumers with amputation choosing newly available osseointegrated fixations for bone-anchored prostheses (BAPs) over socket-suspended prostheses. Objectives The aims of this study were to (1) present a procedure focusing on tasks,...

Background: Physical activity has been documented as both beneficial and detrimental for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). The varied experience highlights challenges associated with physical activity and MS, requiring a greater understanding of the experiences of exercise for individuals with MS. Objective: The purpose of this study was...

The physical and social environment impacts on athletic performance. However, previous research has focused mainly on able-bodied sport, with fewer studies being conducted on para-sport programmes. The purpose of this study was to describe the impact of the social and physical environment on wheelchair basketball athletes. A multiple case study met...

It is now widely recognized that athletes with disability compete at an elite level which parallels that experienced by non-disabled athletes. The importance of quality coaching to develop an athlete's full potential is similarly recognized. However, research in the area of coaching athletes with disability is still lacking compared to its counterp...

Purpose: This study quantified the influence of (i) the assistive pole, (ii) seat configuration, and (iii) upper-body and trunk strength, on seated throwing performance in athletes with a spinal cord injury. Methods: Ten Paralympic athletes competing in wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball or athletics (seated throws) participated in two rand...

In Paralympic seated throwing events, the athlete can throw with and without an assistive pole. This study aimed to identify and compare performance-related kinematic variables associated with both seated throwing techniques. Twenty-nine non-disabled males (21.9 ± 2.6 years) performed 12 maximal throws using a 1-kg ball in two conditions (no-pole a...

Paralympic swimming has a shorter history of competition, and subsequently a smaller window for development and application. The decisions made on how to train and coach the Paralympic athlete begin with comprehending the fundamentals of sport science. Specifically for swimming, this involves understanding propulsion and drag within the water, swim...

Rugby football codes have continually increased in popularity and are played professionally around the world at domestic, national and international level. Coaching professionals can use the findings of this review to guide training practices for the professional rugby football player, particularly those players that may be competing concurrently o...

The application of aquatic therapy for health and rehabilitation purposes has been promoted for centuries. Although used predominantly in clinical settings for the treatment, rehabilitation and management of chronic conditions, the practice is also gaining popularity in athletic settings in such areas as recovery training and for the rehabilitation...

This study examined the acute training responses of heart rate variability (HRV) and salivary biomarkers (immunoglobulin A and alpha-amylase) following a standardised training bout in Paralympic swimmers. Changes in HRV, sIgA and sAA were documented Monday morning, Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning over a 14-week monitoring period leading into i...

Lower limb amputees often experience complications with the use of conventional socket-type prostheses, which further reduce their already compromised ability to perform the activities of daily living, or to participate in sporting activities. During the last two decades, a new technology of direct skeletal attachment (osseointegration) of prosthes...

Abnormal scapulothoracic mechanics and scapulohumeral rhythm are implicated in shoulder pathologies, including glenohumeral impingement and rotator cuff tears. Upward scapula rotation, specifically asymmetry of scapula motion and associations of patterns through range with injury, was investigated in dominant and non-dominant limbs of nationally ra...

Introduction: Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) are considered the most crucial element for lifelong habitual physical activity and sports competence. Fundamental Movement Skill assessment is prioritised in intervention strategies due to associations with lifelong habitual physical activity.

This study determined the physical fitness, match-activity profiles and physiological responses of representative tag football players and examined the relationship between physical fitness and the match-activity profile. Microtechnology devices and heart rate (HR) chest straps were used to determine the match-activity profiles of sixteen tag footb...

Introduction: Handcycling is a relatively new wheelchair sport that has gained increased popularity for people with lower limb disabilities. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of three different grip positions on physical parameters during handcycling in a laboratory setting. Methods: Twenty one able-bodied participants performed three...

Objectives: To evaluate research into the effectiveness of group-based sport and exercise programs targeting Indigenous adults on anthropometric, physiological and quality of life outcomes. Design: A systematic review with quality assessment of study design. Methods: A computer-based literature search of EBSCO, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, Informit, S...

The purpose of this study was to: a) identify changes in jump height and perceived well-being as indirect markers of fatigue, b) determine the internal and external workloads performed by players, and c) examine the influence of Yo-Yo IR2 on changes in jump height, perceived well-being and internal and external workloads during a tag football tourn...

INTRODUCTION: A fair classification system in swimming should evaluate objectively an individual’s potential to produce propulsion effectively while minimising the drag forces from the water, within the constraints imposed by their physical impairment. It has been argued that the current classification system attaches insufficient importance to eva...

The primary aim of the study was to quantify baseline reference values for commonly used AFL fitness tests in junior players aged between 12 and 17 years in an academy based program. The second aim was to identify differences in fitness qualities across a season for these junior athletes. Using a descriptive cross sectional design athletes were ass...

The purpose of this study was to a) determine the heart rate variability (HRV) and saliva markers of immunity (salivary immunoglobulin A; sIgA) and stress (salivary alpha-amylase; sAA) responses to chronic training in elite swimmers with a disability; and b) identify the relationships between HRV, sIgA, sAA and training volume. Eight members of a h...

Purpose: To examine the neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue responses to consecutive tag football matches played on the same day and determine the relationship between fatigue and match running performance. Methods: Neuromuscular and perceptual fatigue responses of 15 national tag football players were assessed before and during the 2014 State...

Letter To the Editor: Dec 2 2011 Re Article by Linton SJ, Nicholas M, MacDonald S. Development of a Short Form of the Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Screening Questionnaire. Spine 36(22) 1891-95. 2011 We read Linton et al’s article proposing the ÖMSPQ-10(-short) and applaud the goal of pursuing a more usable short-form instrument. However, several m...

Australia has approximately 26000 registered exercise professionals (REP), in comparison with 3379 accredited practicing dietitians (APD). The REP workforce has the potential to reach more than 10% of the Australian population but there is limited data on their educational background and professional behaviours with regards to nutritional counselli...

This study determined the effect of 6 months of low-load very high-repetition resistance training on bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition in nonosteoporotic middle-aged and older women. Fifty healthy, active community-dwelling women aged 56–75 years took part in the two-group, repeated-measures randomized controlled trial. Participants e...

To characterise relationships between propulsion, anthropometry, and performance in Paralympic swimming. A cross-sectional study of swimmers (13 male, 15 female) aged 20.5 ± 4.4 yr (mean ± SD) was conducted. Subjects locomotor categorisations were: no- physical disability (n= 8, classes S13-S14), low-severity (n= 11, classes S9-S10) or mid-severity...

This study determined the activity profiles and physiological responses of tag football referees during the 2013 Australian National Championships. Portable global positioning systems (GPS) and heart rate (HR) monitors provided data on 28 refereeing performances and Individual HR-VO2 relationships were used to estimate cardiorespiratory involvement...

This study examined the differences in match-activity profiles between selected and non-selected representative players and determined the relationship between Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) and match running performance in tag football. The match-activity profiles of fifteen male tag football players from the same team were d...

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of BodyBalance ® training on balance, functional task performance, fear of falling, and health-related quality of life in adults aged over 55 years. Participants and methods: A total of 28 healthy, active adults aged 66±5 years completed the randomized controlled trial. Balance, function...

Objectives: Heart rate variability (HRV) can be a simple, non-invasive method of gauging cardiac autonomic nervous system fluctuations across periodised training workloads and taper in elite athlete populations. The purpose of these three case studies was to examine daily cardiac autonomic variations in Paralympic athletes leading in to the Paralym...

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a dry-land resistance training program in Paralympic swimmers to increase swimming power and strength measures, and how these changes affect swimming performance. Seven elite-level Paralympic swimmers (1 male and 6 female; age 19.4 ± 6.5 y; body mass 57 ± 12 kg; height: 1.66 ± 0.21 m) performed a 6-week coa...

Physical literacy was established to explain the knowledge and competence children ideally demonstrate for lifelong health and wellness. Current physical literacy assessment is quantified by how well a child performs fundamental movement skills which include a static balance, vertical jump, sprint, catch, hop, leap, side gallop, kick, skip, strike,...

Edmonds RC, Leicht AS, McKean M, Burkett B. Daily Heart Rate Variability during an 18-Day Staging Camp in Paralympic Medallist Swimmers. JEPonline 2014;17(4):84-92. The purpose of this study was to quantify the daily fluctuations in heart rate variability (HRV) during taper for elite Paralympic medallist swimmers with various impairments. Ten-min s...

This study investigated the physical demands of male and female tag football players, stratified by playing position and representative selection. Global positioning systems provided data on 98 playing appearances during the 2013 Queensland State Cup. Players covered 97 m/min (men's) and 91 m/min (women's) over ~23 min of on-field playing time. Hig...

Objectives To determine the effect of 26 weeks of low-load high-repetition resistance training (BodyPump™) on maximal strength, gait speed, balance and self-reported health status in healthy, active middle-aged and older adults. Design Two-group randomised control trial Methods Sixty-eight apparently healthy, active adults aged over 55 years comp...

Objective: 20 elite swimmers completed a total of 6 randomized net drag force trials in 2 conditions (i) 3 breathing and (ii) 3 non-breathing. Net drag force was measured using an assisted motorized dynamometer device mounted upon a Kistler force-platform. The male participants demonstrated no statistical differences in stroke rates between breathi...

Disabilities in Paralympic swimming could impact a swimmer's ability to execute an effective swim-start. We examined how swim-start performance differed between severity and type of physical disability. Swim-starts were measured in 55 elite Paralympic swimmers from nine different Paralympic classes; S14, S13, S10-S6, S3 grouped as no- (classes S13&...

By the nature of their physical impairment Paralympic swimmers generally exhibit an asymmetrical anthropometric profile. The likely causes of asymmetry include bilateral differences in musculoskeletal profile, limitations in flexibility, and muscular imbalances 15. This scenario can lead to impaired balance or propulsion 10 and subsequently impaire...

Abstract This study used both an instantaneous net drag force profile and a symmetry timing to evaluate the effect of the breathing action on stroke coordination. Twenty elite swimmers completed a total of six randomised front-crawl towing trials: (i) three breathing trials and (ii) three non-breathing trials. The net drag force was measured using...

Introduction: There is little empirical evidence of the contribution of group exercise programs to daily physical activity requirements. This study used SenseWear Armbands to differentiate and quantify physical activity in different group exercise classes towards ACSM guidelines on daily activity. Methods: Using a crossover design, 13 males (27.9±6...

Physical characteristics such as bone density, strength and balance are subject to an accelerated deterioration beyond the age of 55. Increasing numbers of adults aged over 55 years are undertaking gym based activities including pre-choreographed group exercise classes such as BodyPump. To date there is a paucity of literature assessing the effecti...

To determine the effectiveness of unsupervised Nintendo Wii Fit balance training in older adults. 41 older adults were recruited from local retirement villages and educational settings to participate in a six-week two-group repeated measures study. The Wii group (n = 21, 75 ± 6 yr) undertook 30 minutes of unsupervised Wii balance gaming, three time...

Background: Using a cross-sectional design comparison was made of two overhead press techniques (in-front of the head or behind the head). The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of behind the head or in-front of the head overhead pressing technique on shoulder range of movement (ROM) and spine posture. The overhead press is commonly...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine if a single 6RM squat score can predict strength asymmetry in female football players. The influence joint range of motion of the hip and knee, injury history, training background and training frequency on this score was also determined. Methods: Fifteen state-level female football athletes and fi...

The aim of this study was to use sEMG to measure the neuromuscular activity during the TUG task in water, and compare this with the responses for the same task on land. Ten healthy subjects [5 males and 5 females [mean ± SD]: age, 22.0 ± 3.1 yr; body mass, 63.9 ± 17.2 kg. A telemetry EMG system was used on the following muscles on the right side of...