Paracanoe paddling technique relative to the Olympic Optimal Stroke Profile: a series of single-case study

Paddling is cyclic and technique determines performance, requiring adaptations to maintain propulsive effectiveness (Garnier et al., 2023). López et al. (2011) proposed the Optimal Stroke Profile (OSP) as an optimal execution space, beyond which deviations reduce propulsive effectiveness. In paracanoe, a systematic comparison between paddling trajectories and the OSP is lacking. This exploratory study examines whether paracanoe athletes’ profiles reproduce the OSP of athletes without disabilities by comparing four variables at the catch: Paddle Advance (PA), Paddle Separation (PS), Frontal Angle (FA) and Lateral Angle (LA). Four elite paracanoe athletes (two KL1, two KL3) performed two 30-s maximal trials on a kayak ergometer. Three-dimensional kinematics were recorded using an optoelectronic system with markers placed on the paddle and the ergometer. Catch-to-catch cycles were identified from the antero-posterior component of velocity, and one representative cycle per side was selected. Deviations from the Olympic OSP were quantified using z-scores and single-case tests (Crawford & Howell). All athletes showed deviations. FA, LA and PA were higher, whereas PS fell within the variability of the OSP; in two cases, LA was reduced on one side. The OSP is a useful reference, but individual configurations emerge, related to specific functional constraints