Abstract
This case report aimed to examine the effects of long-haul eastward transmeridian travel on neuromuscular performance, subjective well-being, and internal training load in a World-class female Paralympic shot-putter preparing for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
An F54-class athlete was monitored for 21 days surrounding a flight from Chile to France (eastward, six time zones). Daily assessments included handgrip strength (HGS), shot-put throwing distance, subjective well-being, and session rating of perceived exertion (s-RPE). Descriptive statistics and Spearman's correlation were used to explore relationships between performance and physiological/subjective variables.
Transient reductions in HGS occurred for 3-4 days post-travel, followed by daily fluctuations. Jet lag and fatigue scores were elevated during the first post-travel days but showed progressive improvement, returning to near-baseline levels by approximately two weeks before competition. Throwing performance showed a moderate positive correlation with left-hand HGS (
= 0.52,
= 0.032) and a negative correlation with s-RPE (
= -0.56,
= 0.018). Gastrointestinal disruptions, particularly in stool frequency and consistency, persisted longer than other subjective variables.
Long-haul transmeridian travel was associated with transient neuromuscular and perceptual disturbances in a world-class Paralympic athlete. HGS and s-RPE emerged as practical and responsive markers of travel-induced fatigue and performance readiness during the 21-day period surrounding international travel. These findings highlight the need for individualized monitoring strategies during the travel adaptation period in elite Paralympic sport contexts.