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Injuries are a common problem for wheelchair athletes. To prevent injuries, it is essential to understand their causes. Injuries have far-reaching consequences, particularly for athletes who use wheelchairs. In collaboration with industry partners, knowledge institutions, and companies, The Hague University of Applied Sciences is investigating how to better address this issue.

Injuries are a major issue in Paralympic Sports. Not only is the incidence of injuries high, but their impact on daily life is also significant. Discussions with practitioners—including athletes, coaches, and embedded scientists—highlight the urgency of this issue, particularly for wheelchair athletes. For them, an injury can pose an acute threat to their independence, as they rely on their wheelchairs for daily living. To date, there is insufficient understanding of how these injuries occur, as it is a complex problem involving a wide range of factors, such as the physical demands of daily life, mental aspects, and the athletes' sleep quality.

Objective 

The objective of AI op Rolletjes is to take the initial steps toward identifying the risk factors for developing overuse injuries in wheelchair sports. The ultimate outcome is the submission of a follow-up proposal featuring a well-defined research question and a strong consortium.

Approach

This project employs an integrated and data-driven approach in which artificial intelligence and data science play an essential role. This makes it possible to examine multiple key aspects of injury development simultaneously and to account for potential interactions between risk factors.

Duration 

This project ran from May 2024 to May 2025.

Grant provider 

SIA (KIEM HighTech)

'AI for All' PhD Project

'AI for All' is the focus of the PhD project led by lecturer-researcher Onur Tezel. The project aims to leverage technological advancements to facilitate data-driven decision-making for wheelchair-using athletes.

We aim to understand how effective injury prevention can be structured. The relationship between training load and injury risk is complex, yet it offers valuable insights for athletes and coaches. In turn, this can contribute to better health outcomes and greater social participation, as injuries significantly hinder wheelchair-using athletes' engagement in daily activities.

Beyond the realm of elite sports, this project may also have implications for other areas where people rely on wheelchairs for mobility, such as rehabilitation, the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases, and elderly care. This broader impact reinforces the inclusivity principle of 'AI for All'.

Team 

• The Hague University of Applied Sciences: Onur Tezel, Rienk van der Slikke, and Monique Berger. 
• Amsterdam UMC – VUmc location: Evert Verhagen and Joske Nauta 
• NOC*NSF: Kamiel Maase, Eelke van der Wal, and Maarten Moen 
• Kinetic Analysis: Maarten Gijssel

Contact 

Monique Berger ([email protected])