The impact of cognitive functions and intellectual impairment on pacing and performance in sports

• Published in: Psychology of sport and exercise Vol. 52; p. 101840
• Main Authors: Sakalidis, Kandianos Emmanouil, Burns, Jan, Van Biesen, Debbie, Dreegia, Waleed, Hettinga, Florentina Johanna
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2021
• Subjects: Cognition; Intellectual disability; Learning disabilities; Paralympics; Regulation of energy expenditure; Sports performance; II; Intellectual disability; Learning disabilities; Cognition; Sports performance; Regulation of energy expenditure; AAIDD; GCTB; IPC; Paralympics
• ISSN: 1469-0292; 1878-5476
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychsport.2020.101840

An essential determinant for success in sports is pacing. Cognitive mechanisms like self-regulation and executive functions are strongly related to adequate pacing behaviour, and people with Intellectual Impairment (II) experience shortfalls in those skills. Previous literature in children without II revealed that pacing is at least partly dependent on cognitive development. Research that focuses on pacing abilities of individuals with II strengthens the assumption that intellectual functioning is involved in pacing, as elite athletes with II are not able to maintain a pre-planned submaximal velocity and they regulate their exercise intensity differently compared to athletes without II. This review highlights the role of cognition and adaptive behaviour in pacing and provides insight into the impact of II on pacing behaviour. It is also proposing pacing as a significant component of Paralympics’ evidence-based classification for athletes with II. Finally, we propose future directions for research to uncover the impact of cognitive mechanisms on regulation of exercise intensity. •An essential determinant for success in sports is pacing, a multifaceted goal-directed process of decision making.•Pacing ability involves self-regulation and executive functions and could thereby be approached as a cognitive skill.•Intellectual Impairment impacts on the pacing skills of athletes and thereby impacts on sports performance.•Pacing is an important component to explore in the context of Paralympics’ evidence-based classification system.