MBTs and Australia’s finest Paralympic athletes
I currently coach a squad of elite athletes with cerebral palsy based at the AIS in Canberra. Most of them are Paralympic medallists, world champions, and world record holders.
The level and depth of Paralympic competition is increasing all the time. To keep ahead of the rest of the world and to maintain Australia’s world status, I continually seek new and innovative modes of training.
I recently read an article about MBT and was interested in the claims that they made. Many of these fitted identically with the neurological impairments that are associated with cerebral palsy. These include:
- Inability to activate postural muscles in anticipation of voluntary movement.
- Diminished proprioception, and difficulties in memorising a suitable movement pattern
- Restricted range of movement in many joints including the ankle, knee and hip.
It is anticipated that regular use of MBTs as a training tool will improve the walking gait and posture of my athletes. It will also encourage the appropriate recruitment of proprioceptive muscles. These attributes combined should help them to better perform the movements and actions required for Paralympic success at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Wade McMahon
2006 IPC Athletics World Championships Bronze Medal Winner – F37 Javelin
Current Australian and Oceania Record Holder
AIS Scholarship Holder
Amanda Fraser
Current World Record Holder – F37 Discus
2006 IPC Athletics World Championships Gold Medal Winner – F37 Discus
2006 IPC Athletics World Championships Silver Medal Winner – F37 Shot
2004 Athens Paralympic Games Silver Medal Winner – F37 Discus
2000 Sydney Paralympic Games Bronze Medal Winner – Swimming
AIS Scholarship Holder
Hamish MacDonald
Current World Record Holder – F34 Shot
2006 IPC Athletics World Championships Gold Medal Winner – F34 Shot
2004 Athens Paralympic Games Silver Medal Winner – F33/34 Shot
1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games Gold Medal Winner – F34 Shot
AIS Scholarship Holder
Greg Hibberd
2006 IPC Athletics World Championships Bronze Medal Winner – F34 Shot
ACTAS Scholarship Holder