Turning data into smarter injury prevention

Injuries are a common problem for wheelchair athletes. They not only affect sports performance but often also have a direct impact on athletes’ daily functioning and independence. Together with professional partners, research institutions and healthcare organisations, The Hague University of Applied Sciences is investigating how data-driven insights can contribute to effective injury prevention in Paralympic sport.

Injuries are among the biggest challenges in Paralympic sport. For wheelchair athletes in particular, injuries can result in limitations that extend beyond sport itself. At the same time, there is often a lack of systematic information needed to identify emerging complaints at an early stage and to properly assess the individual athlete’s capacity. As a result, effectively preventing injuries remains challenging.

With AI op Rolletjes, we are working to gain a better understanding of the relationship between factors such as training load, daily physical load, wellbeing, age and severity of impairment, and the occurrence of injuries. By examining these factors in relation to one another, we aim to develop a more comprehensive understanding of injury risks in wheelchair sports.

Objective

The aim of AI op Rolletjes is to identify the key risk factors associated with injuries in Paralympic wheelchair sports and translate this knowledge into practical recommendations for sports professionals.

In doing so, we aim to support sports professionals in monitoring athletes, recognising early signs of complaints, and preventing overuse and injuries.

Approach

As part of the project, a systematic data collection process will be established to gather information on sports-related complaints and potential risk factors. This will include factors such as training load, daily physical load, wellbeing and personal characteristics of the athlete.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Science techniques will then be used to identify relationships and patterns within the data. This approach makes it possible not only to examine individual risk factors, but also to map the complex interactions between different factors.

The knowledge gained will be translated into a practical guide for coaches, sports physicians, physiotherapists and other professionals working in Paralympic wheelchair sports.

Duration

This project runs from April 2026 to April 2028.

Funding 

RAAK-pro (SIA)

PhD research project: AI for All

AI for everyone – that is the focus of the PhD research project of lecturer-researcher Onur Tezel. Following the award of a PhD voucher, he is investigating how Artificial Intelligence can contribute to data-driven decision-making for wheelchair-using athletes.

The PhD research focuses on how data on physical load, recovery and wellbeing can be used to better understand injury risks and identify them at an early stage. The insights gained will not only contribute to sports practice, but may also be relevant to other areas in which wheelchair users are active, such as rehabilitation, preventive healthcare and elderly care.

In this way, the research contributes to the broader ambition of making AI accessible and applicable to a diverse range of users.

Team

• The Hague University of Applied Sciences: Rienk van der Slikke (project leader), Onur Tezel and Monique Berger. research group Assistive Technology for Mobility and Sports
• UMCG: Arie-Willem de Leeuw
• Amsterdam UMC – VUmc location: Evert Verhagen and Joske Nauta
• NOC*NSF: Kamiel Maase, Eelke van der Wal and Maarten Moen
• Kinetic Analysis: Maarten Gijssel

More information

The project builds on the results of the earlier KIEM HighTech project AI op Rolletjes. The knowledge, collaboration and data infrastructure developed during this preliminary project form the basis for this two-year RAAK project, which focuses on systematic data collection, AI analyses and the implementation of the results in sports practice.

Contact

Rienk van der Slikke ([email protected])