VELOX ERGONOMIC. ADAPTIVE. PERFORMANCE. SARAH KLECKER // UNIVERSITY OF OREGON // SPORTS PRODUCT DESIGN TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S PUSH RIM WHEELCHAIR RACERS Team USA Tokyo 2021 Paralympic Uniforms, Weatherproof Training Apparel, and Push Gloves for Women’s Push Rim Wheelchair Racers Sarah Klecker University of Oregon TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 2 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Abstract Paralympic athletes have long been marginalized and fought to have their athletic pursuits recognized as equal to traditional sport. These groups have consistently been left out of marketing and advertising images, as these tend to focus on the cultural body ideal and since advertising influences what the cultural perception of “normal” is, their exclusion perpetuates societal discrimination (Hardin, 2003). An apparel market that has long excluded the needs of disabled individuals has a similar effect. Society is tied to the idea that disabled individuals are associated with tragedy, and that makes people uncomfortable–a reason they’ve been excluded from advertising, marketing, and having products generally available that cater to their needs. Sports marketing is particularly guilty of this, as evidenced by an ad for the Nike Dri-Goat trail shoe. It reads: “Right about now you’re probably asking yourself, “How can a trail running shoe with an outer sole designed like a goat’s hoof help me avoid compressing my spinal cord into a Slinky on the side of some unsuspecting conifer, thereby rendering me a drooling, misshapen, non-extreme-trail-running husk of my former self, forced to roam the earth in a motorized wheelchair with my name embossed on one of those cute little license plates you get at carnivals or state fairs, fastened to the back?” (Lauredhel, 2010) This is just one example of such transgressions against disabled athletes. However, as Kaitlyn Large puts eloquently in her piece Why We Need Disabled Athletes in Mainstream Sports: “The sympathy seems to stem from a misunderstanding about what causes the difference in quality of life for disabled people versus their able-bodied counterparts. Physical impairments are not themselves to blame, but rather a society that does not accommodate difference.” By catering to the unique needs of those with disabilities, we can fight this stigma and place para sporting events as equal to Olympic counterparts. Olympic athletes have long been characterized by unique body proportions that aid their sport. Looking at Michael Phelps’s long torso or Usain Bolt’s long legs, companies have been inspired to create uniforms for these elite athletes. Paralympians don’t receive the same treatment and are wearing uniforms designed for traditional athletics, neglecting the fact that their unique bodies and the sports they compete in have different requirements. TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 3 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS The research implications in developing apparel for the needs of wheelchair athletes can be used to benefit the general disabled population as well, which could help with promoting active lifestyles in the disabled community. Participating in sports fosters increased self-esteem, leadership abilities, teamwork, and feelings of inclusion. Fostering a love of sport can be a means for improving quality of life and decreasing the risks associated with a tendency towards inactivity seen in the disabled population (Pamela E. Wilson, 2016). Surveys have also found that youth who’ve participated in Disabled Sports USA events and programs are twice as likely to be employed as the general population of disabled adults and were more than twice as likely to be physically active throughout life (Survey finds Disabled Sports USA participants twice as likely to be employed as adults with disabilities., 2009). Disabled individuals who participated in recreational sports ranked their general health and quality of life higher than their non- sporting peers (Survey finds Disabled Sports USA participants twice as likely to be employed as adults with disabilities., 2009). In order to create a more inclusive sport environment, I’ve chosen to focus my Sports Product Design M.S. capstone project on creating Paralympic uniforms, training apparel, and push gloves for the Tokyo 2021 Women’s push rim wheelchair racers. TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 4 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Part 1: Initial Sport Research History Adaptive sports began as a way to rehabilitate WW2 veterans. Dr. Ludwig Guttman was a neurosurgeon and director of a spinal cord injury program at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital; he promoted the use of sports and physical activity as part of the recovery process from spinal cord injuries. In 1948, he hosted the first Stoke Mandeville games in where disabled British veterans with spinal cord injuries could compete in athletics (Pamela E. Wilson, 2016). In 1952 the games developed an international standing with teams coming from The Figure 1 Early Wheelchair Racing Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Norway. It was this year that the International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation (ISMGF) was formed as the governing body of the event. The federation developed ties with the IOC to expand the scope of wheelchair sports. In 1960 the games were held in Rome in conjunction with the Olympics. In 1964 the term Paralympics was coined and the event was held every subsequent 4 years (Cooper, 1990). From the beginning track and field was the most popular sport classification with 31 athletes competing from 10 different countries (US Paralympics: Track and Field, n.d.) The 1964 Tokyo games saw the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m races held on the track. Canadian wheelchair racer Chantal Petitclerc took full advantage of the varying race distances to become one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes in history, winning bronze medals in the 200m and 800m distances in 1992 and going on to win two gold medals in 1996. In all she garnered 21 Paralympic medals throughout her career. After her retirement however, USA’s Tatyana McFadden has taken over, dominating all distances including the marathon (which was added to the Paralympic program in 1984). As far as major wheelchair marathons go, the Boston Marathon was the first marathon major to host a competitive wheelchair field in 1975. Mcfadden was the first athlete to claim all four wheelchair marathon major titles in a single TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 5 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS year (Boston, London, Chicago, and New York) in 2013 (History of Athletics, 2016). She has since had 4 “grand slams” (winning all four titles) and is the most decorated female wheelchair racer in the world. The current world record for the women’s wheelchair marathon in the T54 category is held by Susannah Scaroni in a time of 1:30:44, set at the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth in 2019. 1984 was also the first year the Adaptive Sports Junior Nationals athletics meet was held. It is the oldest and largest continuously held sports event for athletes with physical disabilities ages 6 to 22 in North America. (About Junior Nationals, n.d.). This meet serves as a training ground for many future Paralympic athletes and is where sensations like Tanya McFadden got their start. Before 1984, youth wheelchair races had to compete against their adult counterparts which put them at a disadvantage. Tatyana McFadden has been vocal about rights for athletes with disabilities. Throughout high school, she couldn’t compete alongside able-bodied counterparts, so most of her racing was done alone. In 2005 she filed a suit against the Howard County Public School System and won the right for her to race against her classmates. This led to the Maryland Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabilities Act, which allowed disabled athletes to compete in interscholastic athletics. In 2013, it became federal law so that disabled student athletes across the US could compete in interscholastic athletics (About Tatyana, n.d.). Sport Playing Field/Environment Generally speaking, wheelchair athletes will compete in the same arenas as their ambulatory peers. Wheelchair racers will race on the same courses as their counterparts (except in the cases of cross-country races). This means wheelchair races are held on traditional 400m outdoor running tracks, and on road racing courses. On the roads, wheelchair racers will typically have a start some minutes before the running field begins, though obviously at the Paralympic level it is it’s own premier event. Wheelchair racing is sanctioned internationally by the international Paralympic Committee and nationally by USA Track and Field and USA Paralympic Track and Field. Distances range from 100m to the marathon, though at specific track meets race distances will vary, and not every disability classification will compete in every TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 6 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS distance at a given race. Common distances for road races include 5 km, 10km, 15km, half- marathon, and marathon (Mitchell, n.d.). Conditions For races will vary with seasonal weather and specific road racing courses, with athletes being able to manage conditions similarly to their non-wheelchair using peers. One thing that can be particularly troublesome to racers though is any type of rain or precipitation. Slippery conditions can make racing dangerous, both with wheels on pavement and with hands on the push rims. In 2019, wet conditions at the Boston Marathon caused Tatyana McFadden to flip her wheelchair early on in the race (Bird, 2019). According to the Road Runners Club of America “Guidelines to Facilitate Participation by Athletes with Disabilities” it is advised that courses avoid severe changes in elevation, abrupt turns (especially at the bottom of hills), and any unfavorable terrain including grass, narrow trails, and uneven pavement. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is the Paralympic Marathon Course: first time in recent history that the T12 (Men/Women).T46 (Men).T54 (Men/Women) Paralympic wheelchair marathon course will not follow the same route as the Olympic marathon. Pictured in figure 2, It will start and finish at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo and wind though the capital going StarVFinish by lots of cultural landmarks (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium Paralympic Marathon Course Confirmed, 2019). The finish of the race will be on an e) I IKm I ::':.-:'.:!.=.,c:_i:.__..__., __ ~ ·-"-"------------..- -·•-. .- ""'·s--., .-.. .-....-,_ ____ ,,,"'" ... -- uphill. The roads are primarily clean asphalt, Fsiogu brea 2r rTionkgyo a 2n0y20 r Paairna ltyhmep ict ewrhreaeilnch asihr omuarladt hboen cqouuritsee wheelchair friendly. The Paralympics run from August 25th through September 6th, with the T54 women’s push rim wheelchair marathon falling on the final day. Already there has been talk of the potential for extreme heat in Tokyo. The marathon races were moved to start 30 minutes earlier at 6:30 AM in order to better accommodate rising temperatures. August is the peak of Tokyo’s summer, with temperatures that can reach as high as 95ºF. September is slightly milder, with average high temperatures of 78ºF. August and September are also particularly TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 7 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS humid, adding to the feeling of oppressive heat. 73-75% humidity is common for that time of year (Monthly weather forecast and climate Tokyo, Japan, n.d.). Compared to a traditional wheelchair, the push rim racing wheelchair is unique (figure 3). At the elite level, chairs are individually fit to the exact specifications of each athlete. They are incredibly light, ranging from 13 to 22 lbs. The chair is made up of three components, the cage, the wheels, and the steering bar. The cage is where the athlete sits. It has a sling inside where the athlete sits down. The width of the cage is typically adjusted to the hip and shoulder width of the athlete. The racing chair has three wheels: 2 larger wheels mounted in the back to either side of the seat and one smaller wheel in the front. The back wheels are cambered up to 15º to allow the athlete to sit lower in the cage and more easily reach the push rim for the full cycle. It also makes the chair more stable going around turns. In races, athletes will outfit their chairs with carbon fiber wheels to make the chairs lighter and more aerodynamic. The back wheels are fitted with the push rims that the athlete uses to propel the chair. The steering component is used to turn the chair around curves of the track and cornering on the roads. It’s individualized to each athlete based on dominant arm and is set using a spring mechanism because Figure 3 Example of a push rim racing wheelchair athletes aren’t able to steer and push at the same time. There is also a brake included with the steering component (O'Riordan, n.d.). For athletes who compete in the kneeling position, there is a “foot pod” underneath the seat of the chair to hold up the feet from dragging on the track and make the athlete more aerodynamic. There are many rules governing the body of the wheelchair at the Paralympic level. The rules via the World Para Athletics rule book are as follows: • Wheelchair shall have two large rear wheels and one small front wheel • All wheelchairs must have a functional braking system • No mechanical gears or levers are allowed for the purposes of propelling the chair • The use of mirrors is not permitted TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 8 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS • Athlete must be able to turn the front wheel manually left and right for steering purposes • Use of fairings or similar devices for aerodynamic purposes is not permitted • No part of the wheelchair or attachments may incorporate energy storing capacity for the purpose of enhancing performance • No part of the frame of the wheelchair, or any attachments to it, shall extend forward beyond the hub of the front wheel nor backwards beyond the rearmost vertical plane of the rear wheels. Additionally, the width of the frame, and any of its attachments, shall not be wider than the length between the insides of the rear wheel • The maximum height from the ground to the bottom of the wheelchair frame shall be 50 cm • The frame structure must be made of a material which provides sufficient stability and stiffness for safety purposes. • For the purpose of seat positioning, the frame structure shall incorporate a seat • The use of Sideguards may be added to protect the athlete from the wheels • The maximum diameter of the large wheel shall not exceed 70 cm. • The maximum diameter of the small wheel shall not exceed 50 cm • Only one plain, round, push-rim is allowed for each large wheel Sport Rules and Success The goal of wheelchair racing, like any racing, is to cover the race distance faster than one’s competitors. When starting the race, the center of the front axle may not extend over the starting line. The finish of the race occurs when the center of the front axle crosses the finish line. Within the race, competitors must have full clearance of another athlete’s front wheel in order to pass, or else be disqualified for interfering with another’s race. Figure 4: Example of racing gloves and helmet used by athletes TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 9 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS As far as safety equipment, athletes are required to wear helmets with a hard, protective shell that is recognized by an international safety standard per the World Para Athletics handbook. Most athletes will wear bike helmets that comply with these rulings. While it isn’t explicitly required, most racers will wear gloves that protect the hands from the push rims and allow a more forceful push. Racers are allowed to be barefoot or wear shoes on one or both feet, however these shoes cannot aid the racer in any way or provide a performance advantage. Racers also cannot have their feet touching the ground at any point during the race. Per World Para Athletics rules, athletes must wear clothing that is clean and non- objectionable. The fabric cannot become transparent when wet and the singlets must be the same color on the front and back of the garment (World Para Athletics Rules and Regulations 2018-2019, 2018-2019). It also notes that athletes should wear clothing approved by their national governing body. There is also an entire handbook put out by the International Paralympic Committee regarding manufacturer identification guidelines for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic games. The rules listed are as follows: • No logo may be used in a conspicuous way for advertising purposes • No unauthorized identification may appear on items • Only sports brands and clothing brands may appear as identification of manufacture • Headgear may have one identification of manufacturer up to 10cm2 in size • Armbands may have one logo up to 6cm2 in size • The size of identification of manufacturer on clothing shouldn’t exceed 30cm2 in size • One logo is permitted on zippers and buttons, but should appear in the same color as the concerned item • For sports equipment provided by the athlete or NPC, the size and frequency of logo should be congruent with product sold at retail in the 6 months prior to the games. Equipment is subject to individual IF rules • All footwear items can have 1 logo per item and sizes should be congruent with product sold at retail in the 6 months prior to the games • No authorized identification (logos or country names) should appear on the neck, collar, or on the body (i.e. tattoos) TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 10 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS • On upper body clothing, the identification of manufacturer should be placed on the chest or on the sleeve • Identifications of manufacturer may not appear close or adjacent to one another, in order to avoid a composite logo effect • No third-party references are allowed (i.e. social media hashtags and accounts, corporate design or color scheme, URL, National Federations, International Federations, public or governmental authorities, and clubs with the exception of international federations identifications as authorized by the IPC) • Designs may only be used for one summer and winter Paralympic games, but must be changed by the following summer or winter Paralympic games • Drawings, color schemes, combinations, patterns, prints, letters, numerals, geometric elements, slogans, taglines, words, or designs that refer to or create the impression that they are similar to the manufacturers logo may not be used in the designs of items for the Paralympic games • Countries are encouraged to use national colors, names, flags, and emblems, as well as national identification emblems in order to visually enhance the national identity of items • No maximum frequency or sizes are applied to national identifications • No item may feature lyrics from national anthems, motivational words, public or political messaging, or slogans related to national identity • Uniforms may not include any Olympic marks, international sport federation emblems, IPC marks, or any form of propaganda • NPC may use the Tokyo 2020 logos so long as they are the approved wordmarks, are not being used for commercial purposes (for replica merchandise), and may ony be used once per item of clothing (up to 30cm2) • It is forbidden to use the Tokyo 2020 wordmark in association with the identification of manufacturer TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 11 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS • When the Tokyo 2020 wordmark is used in conjunction with the National emblem or IF identification, the Tokyo 2020 wordmark should be placed below the national emblem, separated by a gap or dividing line • Where clothing contains elastic material, identification of manufacturer will be measured stretched (IPC Manufacturer Identification Guidelines: Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games General Guidelines, 2020) Per USATF guidelines, athletes are just required to wear exclusively Team USA issued uniforms (Athlete uniform Guidelines 2019, 2019). Athlete, Consumer, User Data Via the World Para Athletics Association, athletes are put into classifications based on disability type. The goal is to put athletes into categories in which impairments cause similar levels of limitation to athletic activity. To be eligible for para athletics, an athlete must have an impairment deemed severe enough to have an impact on athletic performance. In wheelchair racing, there are 7 classes, with class T54 reflecting the highest amount of muscular function in the wheelchair racing events. Athletes in the T54 classification have full muscle power in the arms and some to full muscle power in the trunk. They may have some function in the legs as well. Disabilities that lead to this classification are typically spinal cord injuries or lower limb loss. The 2019 Chicago marathon served as the trials race for the 2020 Paralympics, and on the women’s side Tatyana McFadden and Susannah Scaroni earned spots to represent the United States. Tatyana Mcfadden was born with spina bifida, and has had limited use of her legs since birth. She was adopted from a Russian orphanage when she was 6 and told by doctors she probably wouldn’t live long due to her condition. She tried many sports at a young age in an effort to build her strength and fell in love with track and field. When she was 15, she made her Paralympic debut in Athens winning 2 medals. At the world championships following, she went on to set a world record in the 100m event. She returned to the Paralympics in Beijing and London. By the end of 2016 she had world records in the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 12 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS 5k. She began racing marathons in 2009 and between 2013 and 2016 she won 4 “grand slams” were she won all 4 world majors wheelchair marathons. In 2013 she participated in the winter Paralympics in Sochi Russia in the cross-country ski event where she won silver. She is an advocate for athletes with disabilities (About Tatyana, n.d.). Susannah Scarnoi suffered a spinal cord injury when she was 5 years old that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She has been in the Paralympics twice in 2012 and 2016. In 2016 she was 7th in the marathon. She is a native of Washington and trains in Illinois at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she also studies nutritional science. Last June she set the Paralympic wheelchair marathon world record 1:30:42 at the Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN (Telegram, 2019). Pertinent market size and potential The market for Paralympic uniforms for women’s wheelchair marathon racers is small, as the fields for wheelchair marathons are typically not large. As an example, the 2019 Chicago wheelchair marathon featured 27 para athletes (men and women combined), which is considered a huge field (Tennery, 2019). In 2019, there were 5 women in the T54 category named to the Para world championship marathon team, which is another avenue to use the technology from the Paralympic uniforms (Zhang, 2019). However, design implications will reach further than just these elite athletes. Typically, the technology and learnings from creating product for elite athletes can trickle down into consumer product. There is almost nothing in the market for sports apparel addressing the needs of adapted sports and individuals in wheelchairs, which is disheartening considering how beneficial living an active lifestyle is to those in a wheelchair. In 2002 there were approximately 2.8 million wheelchair users in the U.S and it’s estimated that approximately 4,000 to 5,000 physically disabled individuals are involved in athletic competition within the United States with an even larger number participating in recreational sports. Athlete Experience needed to accomplish activity Learning proper technique for racing can be quite difficult, as body positioning is very different than being in a traditional wheelchair. The athlete sits much closer to the ground in TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 13 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS the racing wheelchair with the weight leaned forward so the shoulder drops much closer to the ground. This helps put enough weight onto the front wheel to keep the wheelchair moving in a straight line. When the athlete wishes to turn however, they must lean back so that they can set the turning mechanism. Finding the proper balance of getting the front tire to skip off the ground without tipping the wheelchair backward takes practice. While in a traditional wheelchair the user grasps the push rim and pulls the wheel around the cycle, in a racing wheelchair it is most efficient not to grasp the wheel at all. Instead the user just pushes the handle; getting the proper hand angle takes finessing. The positioning of the body can also put stress on breathing since the user isn’t sitting upright and instead can put the lungs into a somewhat collapsed position (LIzzie, 2015). The training to be one of the best wheelchair racers in the world is incredibly demanding. In her build up to the Tokyo Paralympics, Tatyana McFadden says her workouts include approximately 120 mile a week in her racing chair and lifts weights twice a week. She also plans to race (Dolan, 2018). Susannah Sarconi’s training consists of three days of road workouts and three days of track training each week with sessions amounting to approximately 90 minutes. On the road she will do steady pushes of 75%-80% intensity, with the track session being shorter race pace mile repeats workouts (Susannah Scaroni, n.d.). Push rim wheelchair racing heavily taxes muscle groups of the upper body, including the anterior deltoids, pecs, triceps, forearms, and lats. Strength training for these muscle groups is important to maximize power output for short stretches of time as well as allowing a greater capacity for longer races. Strengthening the antagonist muscle groups is important as well for minimizing injury risk. Physiological and Biomechanical needs of athlete In general, when the athlete is in the wheelchair, they are in hip flexion and thoracic and lumbar flexion. To maximize power output Figure 5 Racing wheelchair positioning pictured from left: sitting, with each stroke, athletes extend the shoulder kneeling, kneeling with feet down TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 14 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS so the elbows draw back behind the ribcage, swing forward with an upward rotation of the scapulae, then drive downward with a forceful tricep extension (Biomechanics of Push Rim Wheelchair Racing, n.d.). There are two different positions that an athlete can take in a push rim wheelchair. There is the kneeling stance and the sitting stance, pictured in figure 5 (the third stance is the same as the kneeling stance but for athletes who may require a foot bar because of certain disabilities). The kneeling stance is the favored body position, since it is more aerodynamic. It also puts the athlete in a more powerful pushing position. In this position, the legs are tucked up underneath the body and the torso is at a nearly horizontal position However, it requires full upper body strength and minimal spasming to move the torso up and down with the pushing of the rim. The sitting stance is favored by athletes who may experience breathing difficulty or excessive spasticity in the kneeling position. It’s typically used by athletes with less upper body function, or amputees who may choose it if it’s more comfortable. The propulsion cycles of each push of the push rim is made up of 6 phases. First, the athlete pulls arms and hands upward and as far A = Acceleration A A F B -= Impact energy transfer F C • Force application A behind the wheel as flexibility will allow (phase A in O .., Rotation energy transfer E s Castoff F B the diagram). They accelerate hands downward F = Backswing F towards the push rim until it hits at point B which is F C the point of kinetic energy transfer from hand to C F wheel. During phase C, force is applied to the push C rim to move it around the rotation, with most of this force coming from the shoulders and elbows. At the bottom of the push rim, the athlete will pronate the - -----Direction of travel hand inward or outward as they take them off the Figure 6 Push rim wheelchair racing push cycle rim to give a last flick of the handle on the wheel with either the thumb or index and middle finger respectively. This then leads to the cast-off phase where the hands leave the rims. The TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 15 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS athlete then must quickly bring hands back to the starting position during the backswing phase to prepare for the next stroke. Changes in terrain can affect the length and force applied of these cycles. During uphill racing portions athletes will shorten the acceleration as to minimize time in which hands aren’t on the rims so that the chair can’t roll backwards. If an athlete is accelerating, they will increase the number of strokes and increase their backswing. There are also slight variations amongst tactics used for track racing versus road racing. While general technique is very similar, the logistics of racing on a closed track and an open road are different. According to University of Illinois wheelchair track and road racing team “On the track, reaction time and chair control are in far greater demand than on the road” and “being able to burrow into a tight gliding position on descents is a needed skill for the road, but of little use on the track.” (Wheelchair Racing, n.d.). In a study on injuries incurred by wheelchair athletes, it was found that 72% of the study participants reported at least one injury from the time of their initial participation in wheelchair sports. The most common injuries reported were soft tissue injuries, blisters, and skin lacerations. Soft tissue injuries were most commonly seen in shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands. Of all the sports in the study, track had the highest incident of injury (also had the highest amount of participants of all the sports surveyed, and road racing was third. Overuse injuries of soft tissue are the most commonly seen injury in wheelchair track athletes. These injuries include strains of upper extremity muscles and sprains of shoulder ligaments. Like any sport with such repetitive motions, muscle imbalances can show up in wheelchair athletes and this can lead to injury. Shoulder muscle imbalance, with weakness in the humeral head depressors can lead to rotator cuff injuries and rotator cuff impingement syndrome. When the deltoid muscles are used to lift the arm and elbow back behind the body to begin the push rim cycle, it can elevate the humerus into the acromian which can irritate the supraspinatus tendon, the subacromial bursa, or the bicep tendon (Astley, 2012). Blisters of the hands accounted for 20 to 30 percent of all recorded injuries. Lacerations of the hands from the push rims and on the upper arms from the wheels were also prevalent among push rim wheelchair racers (Kathleen A. Curtis, 1985). Hand protection from blisters and laceration and arm TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 16 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS protection from the wheels of the wheelchair are all things to consider in the design of athletic apparel for youth push rim wheelchair racers. The dissipation of heat for wheelchair athletes is a unique problem that hasn’t been heavily studied. It is influenced by a whole host of factors, but two major ones. The first factor is that the seated position limits air flow on the backline of the body and limits the evaporative cooling response accordingly. The second is that athletes with spinal cord injuries, which is a common cause of para sport participation, don’t thermoregulate the same way in their lower extremities below the site of the spinal lesion as their upper extremities. Paraplegic athletes have compromised blood flow to lower extremities, so they don’t dissipate heat as effectively. Because of this, there is a greater heat storage for a given metabolic rate in individuals with spinal cord injuries (though this effect is more pronounced in tetraplegic individuals as opposed to paraplegic athletes). They also have greater heat storage in the lower extremities and a lower whole body sweat rate (Price, 2012). The predicted temperatures for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics are going to be extremely hot, so keeping athletes cool will be paramount. The world record wheelchair marathon time of 1:30:44 is equivalent to ~17.34 miles per hour or 7.75 meters per second. This speed presents a unique low-speed aerodynamic condition (when compared to events like cycling which are performed at much higher speeds). Aerodynamic drag on the wheelchair athlete can come from two forces: surface drag and form drag. The surface drag is caused by the adhesion of air molecule to the surface of the object moving through space. Form drag is caused by the difference in air pressure between the front and back of the object moving through space. Aerodynamic drag represents about 40% of the force acting to slow down a wheelchair racer, so solutions that minimize drag can have a significant impact on the race (Joseph Winnick, n.d.) In a study looking at Paralympic wheelchair racers in the Rio 2016 Paralympics, it was found that the female racers (as compared to the men racing) that medaled were aided more in assuming a better aerodynamic position by minimizing the frontal area in their assumed position, possibly because of their reduced power output. Men racing were more able to overcome less aerodynamic positioning with greater power output (Amy Lewis, 2017). TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 17 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Clothing that physically caters to the disability of the wheelchair athlete is important, sport performance characteristics aside. Being able to put on and take off clothing independently and providing a physiological and psychological sense of comfort in one’s apparel is the goal of adaptive clothing design. Anthropometric characteristics change when a person is seated for long periods of time. The hip bones spread out differently and stomach muscles are used in a different way. Thus, pattern modifications need to be made to adjust for the spreading of fat and muscle at the thighs when seated and at the stomach region as well. Ease of movement is pivotal in all design, but especially the design of sporting garments. When the athlete has to transfer from the daily wheelchair to the racing wheelchair and negotiate leg positioning, garments that stay out of the way are key. Easy access to garment openings and pockets is also important to consider. Most pants pockets placed on the back and front of the pants are useless to wheelchair users in their working position. Easy to manipulate fasteners like Velcro and magnets are important to consider so that individuals can take as much individual control over the donning and doffing of garments as possible as well as making garments easier for caretakers to assist with. Finally, the fit or the garments is different for those using wheelchairs. Things to consider are: higher back rise and lower front rise to mimic body measurements when seated, elasticated waistbands, shaped back waist, and a longer pant length to provide ankle coverage (Suri, 2016). Neckline rise is also important to consider as athletes in push rim racing spend a lot of time with their torso bent forward, causing loose necklines to hang open. This also means workout tops should be longer in the back to avoid pulling up with the athlete leans forward. When considering patterning, avoiding seaming in areas with a lot of movement is important too. Since there is a high amount of movement in the shoulders and arms during a push rim race, creating garments that avoid seams along the inside of the arm and in the armpit is ideal to minimize chafing concerns. Competitor Product Research TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 18 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Currently, the Paralympic uniforms are the same as the Olympic uniforms. In 2016, for the Rio Summer Olympics, Nike debuted innovative new uniforms for the track and field team inspired by a blue feather from a Brazilian bird. The uniforms, titled the Vapor track and Figure 9 Nike's Rio 2016 Track and Field Uniforms field kit, feature rubber 3D printed “aeroblades” strategically placed to make the runners more aerodynamic and reduce drag on their clothing. When an Olympian makes the team, they have a choice of what silhouette of uniform they’d like to compete in from several provided options. While I was unable to find a full breakdown of what these Figure 8 Close up of singlet and leggings options are, based upon photos it appears that most of the likely worn by wheelchair racers wheelchair racers wore a looser option of singlet (as opposed to the cropped one worn by the Olympic marathon runners traditionally or the cropped tee often seen on sprinters), as well as full length or ¾ length matching leggings (Figure 8). Included in the kits is Figure 7 Nike Arm Sleeves, Leg Sleeves, and Tape enhanced with also a pair of arm and leg sleeves outfitted aerodynamic AeroBlades with the same aeroblades as the uniform. If an athlete chooses not to wear the arm/leg sleeves but still wishes to have some of the aerodynamic advantage, Nike also offers AeroTape, which is applied like KT tape and features the same aeroblades as the kit (Figure 9). Athletes are allowed to use their own gloves and helmets for the races. There are two main types of gloves in the market: hard thermoplastic gloves and soft leather. The leather gloves are available commercially and come in a range of sizes. They look a bit like boxing gloves and cushion the hand from some of the impact of the push rim. These are typically recommended for newer athletes to the sport. The most popular brand of soft gloves are from TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 19 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS a brand called Harness which offers different silhouettes and levels of coverage. These range from $190-$220 a pair. They have varying levels of foam padding on different surfaces to accommodate different pushing styles and some feature a lobster silhouette for added dexterity (Racing Gloves, n.d.). The rigid options are made of a thermoplastic material that is molded to the exact specifications of the athlete’s hands. These facilitate a more efficient energy transfer for pushing off. The most popular styles are from a brand called Ingenium developed by a wheelchair racer from University of Illinois. These retail for a price of $150 (Shop: The Chief, n.d.), so much cheaper and more breathable than the softer counterpart. Some athletes will opt to create their own gloves with kits sold by manufacturers. Ultimately athletes may choose whatever they are most comfortable with as well as what their disability will allow for (Mitchell, n.d.). In the Team USA “swag bag” given to the athletes, there is Figure 10 Harness soft leather gloves (top 2) and ingenium Rigid 3D printed a number of apparel, footwear, and equipment items given to the gloves (bottom 2) team for the purposes of warm up, lounge, training, and wearing around the Olympic village. In the women’s bag, the following Nike items are included (pictured in figure 11): two sports bras, three pairs of workout leggings, six T-shirts, four tank tops, two warm up jackets, two long sleeve pullovers, two hats, two pairs of athletic shoes, one pair of sandals, three pairs of socks, four pairs of shorts, a water bottle, a wrist strap, a Figure 11 Nike Team USA Issued swag passport cover, a watch, a drawstring bag, and a branded duffle bag. However, the team USA apparel is not adapted to the needs of wheelchair users, and is instead catered to the needs of runners or other athletes in an upright and standing position. The weatherproof jacket allotted TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 20 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS in their kit is a traditional Nike storm fit jacket equipped with a breathable waterproof membrane on a polyester shell. It has seam sealed seams, a high collar with velcro adjustable cuffs, and a removeable hood via a zip. There is a heat press “USA” graphic along the front of the garment (figure 12). The leggings given to athletes as a part of the kit are traditional cut & sew polyester Figure 12 Team USA Weatherproof garments made of a 4 way stretch fabric. They are typically Jacket crafted using a flat seam construction. While specific styles couldn’t be found for what they’d received, pictures can be seen in figure 11. Sometimes garments will feauture laser cut hemlines but this is typically only on higher pricepoint items. Anatomy of State of the Art Product Typically clothing is crafted through a cut and sew method of knit and woven fabrics. Where some of the problems lie is that patterns are crafted based off the body in a standing position, when Paralympians in wheelchairs compete in a seated position. This means that there is excess fabric in certain areas and that the fabric Figure 13 Closeup of Nike's Aeroblades is stretched and lengths shortened in others. The Nike track kit features laser cut and bonded edges to minimize weight and prevent chafing along the neckline and armholes of the garment. The patterning is minimal to keep the garment streamlined and lightweight. The fabric is recycled polyester knit which is printed with sublimation to imbue the uniform with the national colors. The graphics and logos are heat pressed to the garments. The more fitted garments will feature a mixture of recycled polyester and spandex so they can stretch to fit the body. The aeroblades are a recycled polyester compound adhered to the garment in areas that will affect the turbulent airflow around the body as an athlete moves and reduces drag (Nike Vapor Track & Field Kits with AeroSwift Technology, 2016). Typically garments engineered for aerodynamics will use serged seams as to reduce potential for drag caused by the texture of flat lock stitching. Fitted garments can use either, as flat lock seams tend to be more comfortable close to the body. TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 21 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS The gloves commonly seen by on the elite level wheelchair racers are either the gloves by Ingenium or a similar model. These gloves utilize 3D printing to cheapen manufacturing costs. The glove is 3D printed with a rigid plastic filament and features an internal honeycomb structure to make it lightweight while still keeping it very strong. The creation of the gloves is still very small scale, since the market isn’t very large. It relies on athletes taking measurements of their thumb width and the width of their index and middle finger in order to determine sizing. It has an elastic strap that stretches around the back of the hand to keep the glove in place and a rubber surface on the palmar surface to pad the hand, as well as rubber on the pushing surface in order to better grip the push rim. The do-it-yourself kits generally include thermoplastic sheets that can be softened in hot water, then formed around an athlete’s hand in order to personalize fit, though the rest of the glove must then be constructed by the athlete (attachment of rubber and elastic straps). The soft gloves use a semi-rigid leather outer with a foam interior for padding and rubber at the points that contact the chair to allow for better grip. In the Harness models there is a rib knit textile cuff and a Velcro closure that promotes proper hand positioning. The warm up and weatherproof apparel featured in the Team USA issued gear is all slightly different but has some general similar components. Everything is some blend of polyester, spandex, and cotton fibers (because the apparel is no longer available for retail, specific makeup is difficult to find). The comfort items like the tees will feature a jersey knit and are typically a fabric blend that is cotton plaited with polyester on the interior, so it has the hand feel of cotton with the moisture wicking benefits of polyester. The fitted training pieces like the leggings, sports bras, and tanks will be polyester blended with spandex and are generally a knit cut & sew construction, though they can also feature a seamless knit construction to minimize seams and potential for irritation. Based on the photo presented, it also appears that athletes may have received AeroAdapt tees, which was a Nike fabric technology and knit structure that allowed for adaptable air flow based on how much the athlete was sweating. The jackets will feature a woven fabric that is probably a blend of a synthetic fiber like nylon or polyester with some kind of water repellant finish or potentially a Gore-Tex film to allow the jacket to remain breathable. TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 22 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Utility Patent Landscape US860163B2: Article of Apparel with Zonal Stretch Resistance Filed by Nike Inc Pattern knitted into or printed onto a cylindrical portion of •+-- Figure 3 textile that has a different density than textile and allows for muscle support preventing overuse injuries. (USA Patent No. US8601613B2, 2005). US 8745769: Apparel with Reduced Drag Coefficient Filed by Nike inc An athletic garment including a panel designed to reduce frictional and pressure drag around the appendage of an athlete competing in a high speed event such as running and cycling. The panel encircles the appendage and includes texture to texture designed to enhance the laminar boundary layer. (USA Patent No. 8745769, 2014). US9719206B2: Apparel with heat retention layer and method of making the same Filed by Under Armour '\ 1.0 A ceramic print on the interior of a garment with the ceramic portion including at least 5% ceramic by weight and covers at least 10% of the garment interior r (USA Patent No. US9719206B2, 2012). SWOT Analysis TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 23 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Paralympic Uniform -Aftod)rnamic lnnowtlon -Hot patterned for 1M WOfting position ol a whfflchalr atNeie •Molsture-wtc ng properties -.erodynamk properties not optlmlzed to wheelchair -UsercvtYftitilation .£ff0fts made to avoid chafing. flat edge,s --lhermo,egulatory diffetences In lnc:IMduals with p¥,1Pysis not taken stto account -Oifftrent MlhouttlH av1Kabfit OooM sl~ cropptd top. legglngs vs. shoru) .front ol Sftgle-t g~phlcs.iren't vtsible when .itNete Is In -Bfut Uniform stood out arnonos;t othtr coun~ s w 0 T .ffHe:arch working ~lion dwhffkhair ath\et@S to -Otympi< uniform rtgulatlons lmprOYt ~nemlng for uniform -Con-.,etlng nttds (arm p,otection from wheeb vs.. ..appty toture to arss optirNI fof ~odynamics In kffpingarmselq)()Sedforcooling) whffkNlr rKlng poMtlon -Small T;arget. 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N,l-r ...... d-w,ln, ~thltpiNda _ __._pnitll'dlw..__.tu ... .cNnl-'Nwindand Wheelchair Racing Gloves -M.lrti:et Is alrfJdy centtrtd 11ound JndrvkJualllltd flt -Rtgkl gao,,.s Sffffl uncomlortablt and poltnt~lly not Wllh ~y thermoplutk kits and lO printed mock-ls secure to the hind with singular elutk sttJp •30 prinUr19a.u primary manufKturing mtChod Is -Potenti.11 fo, bli,~ WU glows un mow on hind and .alrNCtybelngu~ the-re Is no textile Iner -Pottn~lty sJiPPtrY whtn wtt Of sweaty •limited dtxterity s w 0 T -'llgid piece lnteg~led into .a textile OIC>YI! k>f enhlnced -Unique flt to NCh illlhlete ftt -Oiffe,entlatlno from 30 printed oaow,s in die rna,l(et -lntrNsing MJltefity without Yttifidng prol:Ktion -8.lllndno athlete needs (p,otecdon. therrnote9ulllion. -8etter sweat ma~t dexterity. Hse d donrw\O & dofmo) ~ore tfgonlmk design ~ttfr lnttgration of ol<>Yf with O't'ffall uniform Core Strengths TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 24 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS I believe as a designer, my core strengths lie in my ability to design into multiple product categories, my prototyping ability, my thorough research, and my passion for sports that comes from being an athlete myself. My strengths support this project because I will be designing apparel and equipment for these athletes, showcasing my versatility as a designer. It will require a lot of research into patterning for different body positioning, which will require data collection via body scanning, as well as researching into thermoregulation and aerodynamics and how to utilize that information in the design of a uniform. I’ll also be looking into how to support recovery for these athletes. Finally, the research itself feels important to me because it is working to help empower individuals to participate in sports at athletes highest level, which is something I feel I can be fully invested in for the course of the project. Ultimately I believe I want to be working on performance product innovation for elite athletes in the apparel realm. This project supports this because it is focused on the physiological and biomechanical needs of elite women athletes. It also ties back to my reasons for wanting to get into sports product design in the first place, namely wanting to help all individuals experience the amazing experiences sports have to offer. By focusing on the needs of wheelchair para athletes, the project is broadening the scope of the sports product market to better appeal to athletes of all body types and is making the industry less exclusive to those who fall outside of the norm. TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 25 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Part 2: Field Research Insights Research Methods For this second phase of research in the project, I looked to field research, athlete and expert interviews, and athlete surveys to dial in on the problems athletes are facing with their products. For field research, I reached out to the wheelchair racing team at University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana. They have a successful collegiate team, and many men and women choose to stay there post-collegiately to train for the Paralympics. I was lucky enough to talk with coach Adam Bleakney, as well as Paralympians Susannah Scaroni, Arielle Rausin, and Yen Haong about the sport in general as well as their unique product experiences. I observed practices and interviewed athletes in their training environment, nailing down what they liked and disliked about their competition uniforms, as well as training apparel in general. I also got a deep dive into the history of racing gloves and how manipulations to the gloves can impact biomechanics. The interview questions for each individual are outlined in appendix A, and I used insights from those interviews to compile the following insights on apparel and racing glove concerns. I also took anthropometric measurements of Yen Haong and Susannah Scaroni. Apparel Concerns: Anthropometry & Fit “When we get Team USA gear, it’s just generic Nike sizing, but obviously our lower bodies are a lot smaller” was one of the key pieces of insight I learned from my interview with Paralympian Yen Haong. Fit problems garnered most of the attention throughout our conversation, with Yen emphasizing how lucky she was that her mother was a seamstress because her clothing often needed to be altered. She cited that for pants, she often needs to get a larger size, then take things in at the waist and ankles in order to fit her lower body. Tops are the same way, with her sizing up to fit her shoulders and chest, which become overdeveloped with the muscles used in wheelchair racing, then taking in at the torso and waist. These responses were reflected in the athlete survey as well, as many athletes reported having to shorten lengths of items and take in the waist and legs of things. When discussing the fit of racing apparel, athletes lamented the time they were given one-piece speed suits by Team TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 26 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS USA in 2012. Because of the typical size difference between the athletes’ upper and lower bodies, the one-piece uniforms didn’t fit anyone properly. The anthropometric measurements I took of the athletes confirmed the proportioning difficulties they talked about. In terms of sport specific fit, the commonly cited concerns regarding clothing were having tight fitting clothing, high necklines and midrise leggings, and silhouettes that allowed for optimal mobility. The racers are fit tightly into their chairs, with added padding and upholstery around the body to fit their unique anatomy. They are strapped into a position that puts them close to the wheels, so silhouettes that are bulky are not only uncomfortable, but dangerous. A preference for tighter fitted tank tops and tight sleeves was unanimous amongst the athletes I talked to, and with sleeved tops, something that was difficult to find because of the anthropometric differences between wheelchair racers and other athletes mentioned above. The shoulder breadth issue was also a reason some athletes chose to purchase men’s apparel, since traditional women’s sizing typically has much narrower shoulders. High necklines were also unanimously favored amongst the women I talked to. The working position of the wheelchair racing athlete puts them in an extreme forward leaning position. Because of this, when necklines are too loose and low, it can expose a lot of the chest which can leave female athletes uncomfortable. To combat this, sometimes athletes will layer underneath their tank tops, or they will tie the straps up in the back of the top to raise the neckline. Most athletes said they preferred a neckline almost as high as the collarbone. For similar reasons, mid-rise leggings were favored amongst athletes. With the working position of racing, if the rise of pants are too low, they will pull down as the athlete leans forward. However, if the rise is too high, the waistband can fold over in the front uncomfortably as the athlete leans forward. Even in their daily Figure 14 athletes will fold wheelchairs, the front rise sometimes still comes up too high. waistbands over for better fit Athletes I talked to fixed this by folding waistbands over in the front (figure 18). Finally, mobility in the shoulder region was cited as a big concern when looking for apparel tops. In tank tops, racer back silhouettes are favored because it keeps straps from TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 27 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS slipping off the shoulders and allows the shoulder to move freely. When talking with Paralympic racer Arielle Rausin, she mentioned an instance in which she wore a sports bra with traditional straight straps in a workout and was forced to continually pull them back up onto her shoulders throughout the workout as they kept slipping. Mobility was also a big concern when athletes were looking at sleeved tops and jackets. Weatherproof apparel is extremely hard to find for wheelchair racing athletes because the fabrics are typically woven and non-stretch, and they are designed for running which requires minimal shoulder range of motion. This is worsened when athletes try to layer clothing underneath in cold racing environments. As a result, when athletes have to race in the rain or cold, they will often sacrifice thermoregulatory comfort and weather protection for mobility. Paralympian Susannah Scaroni mentioned that for the Boston Marathon in 2018, she duct taped trash bags beneath her shirt in order to keep the rain from chilling her during the race. Thermoregulation & Sweat Management Women typically sweat most in between breasts, at armpits, and on the center upper back, as well as in the interior of the elbow and behind the knee (Lucy Dunne, 2015). To maximize evaporative cooling, athletic clothing is generally designed to incorporate ventilation in the areas of maximum sweating, especially along the backline of the body. When an athlete is in an upright position, this ventilation coupled with moisture wicking textiles on the front of the body allows the athlete to remain comfortable, cool, and dry. In interviews, athletes cited getting sweaty stomachs (figure 19). Because of the working position of the wheelchair racing athlete, it is difficult to allow for evaporative cooling and sweat management on the front of the torso. As a result, athletes often finish workouts with large wet patches on the front of the torso in the stomach region in the area that is pressed up against their legs (this was confirmed in athlete observation). Athletes Figure 15 Athletes reported sweaty stomachs and quads in their working also cited the quads getting sweaty because of their position while racing TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 28 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS interaction with the upper body, even though the front upper leg is not an area of the body that produces a lot of sweat on it’s own. Irritation & Chafing Irritation and chafing are concerning in wheelchair racing and with Paralympic athletes in general. The main areas of irritation cited by athletes were along the inside of the arm. This is due to chafing against the armpit and interaction with the fenders of the wheelchair. In order to minimize chafing concerns in the armpits, athletes said they preferred tank top silhouettes that had minimal edges and an armhole that didn’t drop too low. Some athletes prefer to wear tops with sleeves to minimize skin on skin interaction at the armpit. The other concern with inner arm interaction with the wheelchair varies largely based on the positioning of the athlete in the chair and the width of the fenders compared to where the athlete sits. Irritation can occur anywhere from the upper bicep to the interior of the elbow. This irritation can take for as bruising from the athlete’s arms hitting the fenders repeatedly, or lacerations from missing a stroke on the push rim. To combat this, athletes will often wear sleeved tops underneath racing uniforms, or wear arm sleeves to protect themselves. Some athletes even went so far as to wear arm padding for protection. The image depicts an athlete utilizing football pads turned inward in order to protect the inner bicep from her chair (figure 20). Lower body irritation and any irritation below the sensation line is also hugely concerning for athletes, namely because paraplegic athletes are unable to feel the irritation occurring. Blood flow to lower extremities is also limited in paraplegic athletes, so healing of these wounds is slow. All the Figure 16 Athlete uses football pads to athletes I talked to preferred leggings over shorts for this reason, protect inner arms from chafing on racing chair to help minimize risk of irritation from the chairs. The majority of athletes even preferred ankle length tights, no matter the weather conditions. Leggings with minimal details were preferred as well, as anything with pockets or extra style lines and seams TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 29 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS has potential to cause chafing against the body. Athletes also disliked racing in cropped style tops, since the straps and upholstery used to secure the athlete into the chair can come across the low back and leaves potential for rubbing and abrasion. This is also another reason that tighter fitting tops and pants are preferred since excess fabric pressed against the body also provides potential for irritation. Durability & Wear Since it is common for wheelchair racing athletes to race numerous events ranging from the 100m all the way to the marathon, durability in uniforms is paramount. However, the working position of the athlete puts stress on areas that differ vastly from the running position that their uniforms were crafted for. Susannah Scaroni mentioned in her interview that after the games, many athletes wearing the singlets in practice had the uniform separate and rip at the shoulder seam because of the strain on the garment there. Numerous athletes also stated that they experienced holes in the bum of their leggings, which makes sense because of the strain put on the garment there as well as the friction of the pants fabric against the wheelchair. Athletes hadn’t found a good solution to either of these issues and so they just replace garments more often Other Apparel Details When discussing the most recent Team USA uniforms with wheelchair athletes who competed in them, one of the first topics to come up were the “Aeroblades” and their inability to interface with the athletes’ wheelchairs. The track and field uniforms for the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics were developed with recycled Polyester “Aeroblades” which were small pyramid shaped protrusions on the sides of both the singlet and the tights of the uniform that help to make the runner more aerodynamic. However, before their races, the wheelchair racing athletes found that since the Aeroblades have a rubbery feel, they were unable to slide into their racing chairs when wearing the leggings. Some athletes chose to wear their own leggings, while others chose to wear the leggings inside out with the Aeroblades pressing into their skin. TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 30 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Other more commonly seen apparel details in warmup apparel become problematic for wheelchair racing athletes as well. Details like hoods and pockets are useless to the athletes and make garments bulky so that it’s harder to wear them in the chairs. Front pockets are unusable on jackets and pants, and if there are zippers it can become an uncomfortable pressure against the body. Whenever athletes are competing or training out on the roads, they are wearing helmets, therefore hoods are useless as well and can catch wind and slow athletes down when worn. Glove concerns: History of Racing Glove I learned about the history of racing gloves from my interview with Paralympic wheelchair racing coach Adam Bleakney. Soon after athletes began racing in wheelchairs, they were looking for ways to protect their hands from the friction and force of the push rims. The earliest racing gloves were simply baseball gloves with athletic tape wrapped around areas of contact with the push rim. One of the first wheelchair racing coaches at university of Illinois, Marty Morse, helped develop the first commercially available glove. This glove is still manufactured today, it is a leather glove with foam fill similar to a boxing glove with a Velcro strap that keeps the hand in a fist position. Because of the large flat surface on the fist side of the glove, this greatly changed the biomechanics of the wheelchair racing hand and wrist motion. The flat surface of the glove minimized the excessive wrist motion and thus resulted in less wrist injury to athletes. However, the soft glove came with some drawbacks. Since the glove could slide against the hand and the push rim could slide across the surface of the glove, their was inevitably force lost in the athlete’s interaction with the wheel. The soft foam also absorbed some of that force. Because of this, athletes began developing their own rigid gloves out of thermoplastic materials like Aquaplast. These gloves were highly individual to each athlete, and athletes could experiment with different shapes and different styles of rubber for grip in different conditions. During this time, athletes generally went back to the grooved shape of glove because although it lent itself to more wrist injuries, it was found better for performance. With the grooved style TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 31 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS glove, the push rim isn’t sliding at all against the surface of the glove and therefore there is much less force lost between the athlete pushing against the wheel. The DIY nature of these gloves had drawbacks though as well. It was impossible to exactly replicate an athlete’s favorite gloves, and gloves couldn’t be mirrored for the right and left side. In 2015, an athlete on the University of Illinois racing team remedied this by 3D scanning her gloves and printing them. She didn’t expect them to be functional, but they functioned better than her previous gloves. Over the years she has developed her company, called Ingenium, and is the premier source for 3D printed racing gloves today. A timeline of the gloves can be seen in figure 21. Figure 17 A history of wheelchair racing gloves Current Racing Glove The current and most commonly used racing gloves by elite athletes on the market are from Ingenium Manufacturing. The style sold on their website is titled “the chief” and is a flat style racing glove, but many of the elite athletes who train at University of Illinois have had their own gloves 3D scanned and printed in the grooved style. The gloves are printed from a PLA plastic and are filed with a honeycomb lattice fill in order to make the glove lighter weight. They feature a vented detail of 3 stripes on the back of the thumb. While athletes can customize how they would like the grip of the glove to function, most styles feature a grip style TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 32 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS covering the index and middle finger. The pushing surface of the glove has a hand cut rubber glued to the surface. Some styles feature an elastic band that comes across the dorsal surface of the hand to prevent the athlete from dropping the glove. A photo of the current gloves can be seen in the timeline above (Rausin, 2020). Biomechanics In my discussion with Adam Bleakney, I got a more complete breakdown of the biomechanics of wheelchair racing. The diagram in figure 22 is a better picture of the specifics of hand and wrist movement during the racing stroke. The biomechanics of the wheelchair \ I (,f' INITIAL COTACT MADE IN GROOVE OF PINKY ROLES INWARD AS HANO DRIVES FOREARM PRONATES INWARD. PINKY ROLES THUMB & FIRST 2 FINGERS, PINKY DOWNWARD. WRIST MOVES INTO NEUIRAL OUT AS IHUMB DRIVES DOWN. WRIST IS IN POINrED OUIWARO POSIIION CONIACI l'OINIIS Al BASE Of THUMB FLEXIONWIIH PALM FACING UPAI REl.fASE PINKYROlES INWARD AS HAND DRIVES DOWNWARD. WRIST MOVES INTO NEUTRAL POSITION, CONTACTPOINT ISAT BASE OF THUMB. Figure 18 Diagram of wrist, arm, and shoulder biomechanics in the wheelchair racing stroke racing stroke are complex. The stroke is comprised of 5 phases: contact, drive, release, lift & stretch, and acceleration. In the contact phase the athlete’s hand grabs the push rim at approximately the 2:00 position of the wheel (if the wheel is pictured like a clock face). With the grooved style glove, the athlete makes contact by fitting the push rim into the groove of the glove and applying a tremendous amount of force inward toward the wheel and forward to push the wheel around. At the initial contact there is almost a feeling of pulling upward on the push rim, but this is only to create more of the inward force on the wheel. At this point the wrist is in a state of intense radial deviation. As the athlete begins to drive forward, force is coming from the primarily from the pectoral and shoulder muscles. The athlete drives the TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 33 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS wheel forward and in doing so, the wrist begins to straighten to it’s normal position as the groove in the glove follows the curvature of the push rim. The athlete’s arm straightens as they drive downward from the 2:00 to the 5:00 position. As the athlete moves into the final portion of the drive phase from the 5:00 to the 8:00 position, the forearm and wrist pronate inward to roll the push rim off the side of the thumb. The athlete strives to apply a greater amount of force in the last 3 hours of contact in order to drive the wheel effectively when it’s released. As the athlete releases the wheel, they apply a flocking motion with the back of their thumb that puts the forearm into an intensely pronated state and the wrist into a state of ulnar radiation. Moving from the contact phase to the lift & stretch phase, the athlete’s palms face skyward as they extend their arms backward to bring the hand into a high position to begin the acceleration phase. The acceleration phase begins at the highest point of the athlete’s hand positioning and consists of the athlete moving their hand quickly into contact with the rim to apply the most force to the push rim of the wheelchair to begin the cycle again. Common Injuries in Wheelchair Racing Common injuries in wheelchair racing stem from the great amount of force being applied to joints that aren’t designed to take that amount of force. “Our hips are here” coach Adam Bleakney told me in an interview, pointing to his shoulders. The most prevalent orthopedic injuries are overuse injuries to the wrist and shoulder, with injuries also occurring in the elbow and neck. These injuries can also stem from the daily activities of individuals in wheelchairs and the stresses applied to those joints. Transfers from wheelchair to other chairs can put a tremendous amount of strain on the shoulders, and pushing one’s daily chair around all day can also stress the wrists. The dynamic movements of the wrist throughout the stroke cycle can cause issues with tendinitis of the wrist and carpal tunnel syndrome. Commonly injured wrist tendons in wheelchair racing include the extensor digitorum longus, extensor carpi ulnaris, flexor carpi ulnaris, and abductor pollicis/extensor pollicis brevis (DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis) (Yoshida, 2020). All the athletes I surveyed had dealt with wrist tendinitis at some point in their racing career. This final tendonitis issue, DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis, is the most common injury TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 34 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS experienced by wheelchair racing athletes due to the hyper pronated state of the forearm and the ulnar deviation at the end of the propulsion cycle. For any wrist tendonitis injuries, the recovery process is similar. First the athlete should avoid any aggravating motions and take care to rest the affected tendons as well as take anti-inflammatory drugs and ice the area. As the inflammation gets under control, athletes can begin range of motion and isometric strengthening exercises. Athletes can also experience carpal tunnel syndrome from wheelchair racing due to the repetitive wrist extension and flexion. Overuse of the wrist extensor tendons can cause them to get inflamed and put pressure on the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist. This can cause pain and numbness in the hands. Treatment includes wearing a splint that keeps the wrist in a neutral position. The other extremely common area of overuse injury for the wheelchair athlete is in the shoulder. Athlete in wheelchairs with spinal cord injuries rely entirely on the shoulder for all propulsion and weight bearing tasks throughout the day. The great range of motion in the shoulder that wheelchair racers rely on comes at the cost of instability in the joint. The shoulder joint relies on ligaments and musculature components for limiting it’s movements (the rotator cuff). Those who rely on the wheelchair in daily life and then go on to use greater force to race their wheelchairs put a huge amount of stress on the joint that can result in muscular imbalances predisposing it to injury. The most common shoulder injuries include shoulder impingement or rotator cuff tendonitis and bicep tendonitis. These conditions involve pain and inflammation in the tendons around the rotator cuff and the subacromial bursae. Finally, because of the rigid nature of the gloves and the fact that there is nothing between the 3D printed implement and the athlete’s hand, acute injury to the skin of the athlete’s hand can be an issue. Abrasion, laceration, and bruising can be problematic throughout the course of a marathon. This is most common on the knuckles & distal portions of the index and middle fingers since that is the area of the hand punching the push rim as seen in figure 20. Athlete’s often accept this as part of the sport, and their hands often build up calluses TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 35 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS to deal with the repeated abrasion, yet missed strokes or odd hitting can lead to acute injuries that can impact the course of their racing. Figure 19 Abrasions on the fingers of a wheelchair racer TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 36 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS Part 3: Ideation & Prototyping Design Opportunity I believe there is immense opportunity for product improvement specific to the needs of wheelchair racing athletes at every level, but starting with the elite athletes in the sport seems logical. The racing uniform, titled the Velox Kit, will be a uniform designed to the ergonomic, thermoregulatory, and protective needs of women’s wheelchair racing athletes. Velox is a Latin word translating to “swift” in English, which seemed fitting for these athletes. It will feature a silhouette mapped to protect the body from the chair in key areas such as the lower body (which will have a full length legging) and a knit arm sleeve enhanced with Kevlar to keep it from ripping. The neckline of the singlet will be high to accommodate the coverage needs of the athlete. This must be balanced with details that help the athlete thermoregulate in the hot temperatures of the Tokyo summer. The singlet will feature laser cut ventilation along the stomach and tops of the thighs to help with airflow in the area. The sleeves will be a shortened ¾ length in order to minimize coverage and allow for airflow. All fabrics will be moisture wicking to help manage sweat. Silhouettes will be ergonomic to the working position of athletes, with leggings featuring a higher rise in the back and a lower front rise, and the singlet featuring a longer hem length in the back and shorter in the front. The graphics of the uniform will also be positioning informed, so that it is apparent what country the athlete is competing for while the athletes are competing. Fabrics must have a slick hand in order to facilitate an easy glide into the racing chair. Following suit of the uniform, the warmup apparel will be titled the “Velox Warmup Kit”. It is designed to be ergonomic and performance driven training apparel to protect racers from the elements. Many of the ergonomic details will be the same as the uniform. In the jacket, shoulder and arm mobility is paramount, as to not get in the way of the athlete as they train. This must be balanced with a fitted silhouette throughout the torso so that the jacket can fit into the straps of the wheelchair. The silhouettes will be minimal and performance driven, with the only pocket being a small card/key pocket located on the arm so it doesn’t add to front of body bulk. The jacket will feature breathable, waterproof textiles to keep the athlete dry and comfortable in inclement weather. The sleeve cuff will be tight in order to not get in the way of TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 37 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS the athlete interaction with the push rim and graphics will be positioning informed, similar to the uniform. Finally, the racing glove, titled the “Velox push glove” will protect the hand and minimize wrist strain without impacting performance. I believe the glove could be doing more for the athlete by way of injury prevention. Up until this point, much of the glove changes have been to the shape of the pushing surface and how it changes the biomechanics of the stroke at the initial contact. The grooved shape has been said to be a more efficient force transfer that lends itself to better performance but increased risk of wrist injury, while the flatter glove proves opposite. Since there is a great amount of force put into the stroke during the latter part as the athlete prepares to accelerate into the next stroke, I’d like to explore changing the mechanics of the release of the push rim to minimize injury. I’d like to do this by flaring the thumb on the outer part of the glove in order to minimize forearm pronation and encourage neutral arm positioning to not put the wrist in a vulnerable state. This will be coupled with a wrist support mechanism that will encourage the wrist to stay in a neutral position and minimize the extent of ulnar deviation at the end of the stroke (especially once the push rim has already been released and the deviation is due to momentum from the force). Along with these changes impacting the biomechanics of the stroke, I want to apply some protection to the fingers to minimize skin injury & abrasion. I will also take note from traditional footwear design and be applying a thin EVA foam layer to the fitting surface of the glove in order to allow for the glove to better conform to the shape of the push rim and facilitate force transfer without as much force from the shoulder pushing inward on the wheel. Since the conditions in Tokyo are expected to be humid, a tread pattern will be applied to the rubber to enhance the traction and lend a performance aesthetic to the glove. The design briefs for all three products are pictured in figure 23. TEAM USA TOKYO 2021 PARALYMPIC UNIFORMS, WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL, 38 AND PUSH GLOVES FOR WOMEN’S WHEELCHAIR RACERS DESIGNED fOR THE !RGOkOMK. THERMOR!GULAll'lt . & PIIOTICll'lt NEEDS Of WOM!N I WHEELCHAIR AAC!IS SU.ILIIER 1011 10llO PIRJJ.YMl'f( GMIES fl/If IIIIIWl'S WHEELawt WRS FOB SSO BODY MAl'P!D VIIITILATION l.fi/tQIIIJIIUD/OCWD mlllf gl l1lr CDUlll •MlllllS ur (l)ISl(llf /lJO!ll IO-l(llgOtJ6IIJICAll!lllll""1IIOl'r-lMWS PDIITIONING INfORM!D GW'HKI RNJS/1Mfllllll!6•~1«111111t.«S PUSH GlOVII D!IIGN!D 10 PIOTICT THE HAIID & MINI IZ! WRIST filAIN WllltOIII IMPACTING P!RIORMANCE S!W.IIER 1011 rono IWIYMPK GIMES fl/If WOMEN'SW IIEELCHA/R RM:ERS RJB Sll REIM. PR/(£ 5300 FOAM l'IOrtmD HlmNG SUR/ACE Ulallftl JIIJJIJfMRRADfYWlftitf'Glfff/WIIW TREAD PAll!IN ENHAIIC!O IUBB!R lWIO' 1WD•llllltRICftllfSlt£1DA~M5lllTC SLE!I & fWID GE01ITTRY rtMf An lR'ltlWa M'iH ,0111( ,m I 88lff DI lfllDD lllflaYIJli ~ - \~IA) pron LL SLcml', (.f-\(1..t <;w.med w/ ~ 11w wt eck:t-'0 -\JU'\ti\u. -tiel"l +.iw u1.: l,o,-, ~ \ SILHOUETTE / GRAPHIC PLACEMENT EXPLORATION / ATHLETE PERCEPTION VELOX UNIFORM PROTOTYPING l~ 1~;Jgio.,""-" ?'f.J s-J ',":,1., ./,r ,'l.i-•1 <'f' ,m FITTING / PATTERN & FINISH EXPERIMENTATION / PROOF OF CONCEPT & WEAR TEST VELOX VALIDATION: UNIFORM “THE LEGGINGS COME UP TO A GOOD POINT “I LIKE HOW THE ANKLE ZIP LETS “REALLY LOVE RACERBACK TANKS” FITTING PERCEPTION ON THE WAIST, UP BELOW MY RIBS, & I THE HEM STAY REALLY TIGHT” LOVE THE SLIPPERY FABRIC!” Susannah Scaroni, US Wheelchair Racing Paralympic Athlete WEAR TEST “I REALLY LIKE THE HIGH NECK, AND THE “THE TOP FITS WELL, TIGHT BUT NOT TOO TIGHT. “THEY’RE ALL REALLY AWESOME, AS WELL FABRIC IS NICE & LIGHT” IT’S LOOSE ENOUGH TO BE COMFORTABLE, BUT AS DIFFERENT FROM MY OTHER CURRENT NOT SO MUCH THAT THERE’S EXTRA FABRC OPINIONS. REALLY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR BUNCHED UP IN THE FRONT” UNDERSTANDING OUR UNIQUE NEEDS.” VELOX TRAINING SKETCHES l - ( :',..•\ ... I.. _.J, ~~ "I..,,,. ,-..., ..,,., . . USI\; ,/i H .... I J I I ' I SILHOUETTE / STRETCH PANEL SHAPE & PLACEMENT / WATERPROOF PANELING SHAPE & PLACEMENT VELOX TRAINING SKETCHES SILHOUETTE / STRETCH PANEL SHAPE & PLACEMENT / WATERPROOF PANELING SHAPE & PLACEMENT VELOX TRAINING SKETCHES hJ IW-'-" J f ?M'! \ --cr1rww.'<. 'Ntf" 'o,1.,-/i,UJ ·h,t1- (~.~\J1'1.~ iJ\~ UfU'i (!~WM -axtiw a:ild iµ\U-1- z. -h,W,,, 1-,,'-1.1..d.c. .:l..tl'lt Vft<.m.,:,> IO./\oll CM>11> _.,,_ cf 1\1, ,_; (•f'l'<'dUl,;-t, '-"-'<"a -<> Of""' "'-"'6 ...... """" ,µ,."'C'" mt ):Jl..-0 -~ ('_A_, J; 11'1-I< "-"- ~/ but - 1t l!'IW''-k Cl "tA p " rJ/\ o.;J / ~ . (.LVI~? 1f,!Wl \~ ~ ~ 'st ~\(}.~ ~ SILHOUETTE / STRETCH PANEL SHAPE & PLACEMENT / WATERPROOF PANELING SHAPE & PLACEMENT VELOX TRAINING PROTOTYPES ..- .;w•c,Ll"I ;(. ... (1.,,.d -n U- s J ~ ~ C: ~ E=;:.-3~ \ ⇒ I t **** * VELOX GLOVE MOOD & COLOR VELOX GLOVE GRAPHIC IDEATION VELOX GLOVE GRAPHIC APPLICATION VELOX PACKAGING PLAN INFORMATIVE HANG TAG / HEAT PRESS LABEL / DRAWSTRING RACE BAG / STRUCTURED BOX CLEAN WITH RETRO EDGE / STAR MOTIFS / GEOMETRIC VELOX BRANDING INSPIRATION FONTS Massimo V,gnetti, 1931-2014, A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo N01~ Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz RESURFACE scRUB **** * •u~•• ~* ·..... ~1,. ,t•4•1J.:l-::£: * * * **• • • • ~· • H' ** ** Paralympics Logo ********** COLOR #CCB080 *metallic #F1F2F2 #DB4E7B #1D5198 #CB3D27 CLEAN WITH RETRO EDGE / STAR MOTIFS / GEOMETRIC VELOX PACKAGING IDEATION Desigtlfldloth•&acl SpecificationsoftheUSA VELOX RACING KIT II Ergonomic Fit: Contoured to the working position of wheelchair VELOX VELOX racing RACING KIT TRAINING KIT Body Mapped Ventilation: Laser Ergonomic Fit: Contoured to cut venting where racers need it USA VELOX Ergonomic Fit: Contoured to the working position of the working position of most RACING KIT wheelchair racing wheelchair racing Protective Silhouette: Kevlar USA Body Mapped Ventilation: Stretch Shoulder Panels: blended arm sleeves and long Design«ltot~Exact Ergonomic Fit: Optimized for shoulder Contoured to the working Laser cut venting where leggings to protect against Specificatl0'1softheUSA mobility f,l position of wheelchair racing racers need it mostchafing Women's Pant/ymp/c Protective Silhouette: Kevlar Gore Tex™: Breathable l. ~ airRaoingTeam Body Mapped Ventilation: Laser cut Tokyo2021 blended arm sleeves and weather protection to keep venting where racers need it most long leggings to protect athletes comfortable & dry against chafing Protective Silhouette: Kevlar blended arm sleeves and long leggings to protect against chafing Tol . eKov,owi./4l- A,.,,r I\J_ ~ .. ,A.,,~~:. 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C, • • - I prototypes top: -SILHOUETTE -EDGE FINISHES leggings: -WAISTBAND SHAPE -MINIMIZING EDGES/DETAILS -STREAMLINING SILHOUETTE velox weatherproof apparel ERGONOMIC & PERFORMANCE DRIVEN TRAINING APPAREL TO PROTECT RACERS FROM THE ELEMENTS VELOX WEATHERPROOF APPAREL ERGONOMIC, MINIMAL, AND PERFORMANCE DRIVEN APPAREL TO PROTECT RACERS FROM THE ELEMENTS SUMMER 2020 TOKYO PARALYMPIC GAMES ELITE WOMEN WHEELCHAIR RACERS RETAIL PRICE $350 FOB $87 FITTED & ERGONOMIC SILHOUETTE FITTED AROUND WAIST & HIP TO FIT INTO CHAIR SEAT, SHORTER FRONT & LONGER BACK BODY MAPPED STRETCH STRETCH PANELS TO ALLOW FOR TIGHTER FIT AROUND WAIST & HIP AND HIGHER MOBILLITY IN SHOULDER/BACK/CHEST REGION BREATHABLE WEATHER PROTECTION KEEP ATHLETE COMFORTABLE & DRY IN RAINY CONDITIONS MINIMAL DESIGN ELIMINATE DETAILS UNUSEABLE TO ATHLETE THAT WOULD CAUSE EXCESS BULK I.E. FRONT POCKETS, HOODS, ETC... POSITIONING INFORMED GRAPHICS UTILIZE BACK & SLEEVE FOR GRAPHICS THAT ARE VISIBLE WHILE ATHLETE IS TRAINING velox weatherproof apparel - - flo.-.AJtJJ4 ('d.rd 1-,4;.,,,. P u.-~111',,u~..!"""tl /,f/a,-//)>;p,.!,.,_ 1-:f- ~¾\,+\ (i.lf••I:\"' (\lfl'J.-1> <>ClOW"lJ."(' t\t) -;111<1lct \.,.., 11,.,,~J j I ~ti,{Mih_ •!"""''° ~ .. ,,...,, "''1 ,(.:,It\' ... r,,,; Ji10v1t14 -r,.,>t, Jnu> r-~ ,.,,":) .. ,c;,..rlf'-'.'c ~<~ if~~ 'lwo,.W 'll'l . t,,.,..,,,, fitWI< - .~1 a k fla:t/liPJ pnl,u., •""'tf- APPAREL REFINEMENT .. \• \u.,,--, PUSH GLOVE IDEATION & REFINEMENT PROTOTYPING VALIDATION FITTING UNIFORM “I REALLY LIKE THE HIGH NECK, AND THE FABRIC IS NICE AND LIGHT.” “THE LEGGINGS COME UP TO A GOOD POINT, AND THE SLICK FABRIC IS GREAT, IT’LL MAKE IT EASY TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CHAIR.” TRAINING APPAREL “I LIKE THE HIGH COLLAR AND THE FULL ZIP SO I CAN TAKE IT OFF WITHOUT REMOVING MY HELMET. IT SEEMS LIGHTWEIGHT AND LIKE IT WOULD ENABLE MOBILITY” VALIDATION PERCEPTION LOBSTER MITT “I THINK A THIN SPANDEX-Y FABRIC ON THE GLOVE GRIPPING FINGERS WOULD BE GREAT! IT SEEMS THIN ENOUGH TO FIT INSIDE THE GLOVE AND MORE COMFORTABLE THAN FULL EXPOSURE” VALIDATION WEAR TEST • ability is UNIFORM TRAINING APPAREL PUSH GLOVE INDOOR WORKOUT ON ROLLER 60 MIN WORKOUT, 44º F LIGHT RAIN PUSH TEST DOWN STREET “THEY’RE REALLY AWESOME, AND DIFFERENT “THE JACKET PROVIDED NICE COVERAGE & “I COULD TELL IT WAS…MINIMIZING FOREARM FROM MY CURRENT OPTIONS” WASN’T BULKY. IT PROVIDED FULL MOBILITY PRONATION. I THINK IT MIGHT BE BENEFICIAL FOR THE ENTIRE WORKOUT” FOR CLIMBING WITH THE BIGGER SURFACE” VELOX COLOR & GRAPHIC TREATMENT VELOX TEAM USA RACING KIT FOR BODY MAPPED VENTILATION VENTILATION FOCUSED ON FRONT OF BODY WHERE RACERS SWEAT MOST ERGONOMIC SILHOUETTE CONTOURED TO THE ATHLETE POSITIONING. FITTED TO THE ANTHROPOMETRY OF WHEELCHAIR RACERS POSITIONING INFORMED GRAPHICS NATIONAL IDENTIFIERS VISIBLE WHILE ATHLETE IS IN WORKING POSITION LOW PROFILE EDGES LASER CUT & BONDED HEMS & EDGES MINIMIZE CHAFING RISK HIGH COVERAGE KEEPS RACERS COMFORTABLE & PROTECTED FROM CHAFING AGAINST THE CHAIR VELOX TEAM USA RACING KIT FOR TOKYO 2021 SINGLET REINFORCED SHOULDER SEAM MATERIALS: _ PREVENTS TEARS AT SHOULDER STRESS POINT POLYESTER/SPANDEX KNIT PANELED DESIGN _ 4 WAY STRETCH _ ALLOWS FOR OPTIMAL MOBILITY _ LESSENS LIKLIHOOD OF UNDERARM CHAFING 3/4 ARM SLEEVE CONSTRUCTION: _ CUT & SEWN WITH FLATLOCK STITCHING _ PROTECTS RACER’S ARMS FROM ABRASION _ LASER CUT & BONDED EDGES E ZIP PERS BODY MAPPED VENTILATION _ SUBLIMATED GRAPHICS KL _ SEAMLESS SWEAT MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATED IN SWEAT ZONES CONTOURED HEM LEGGINGS _ ACCOMODATES FORWARD LEAN & PREVENTS FABRIC FROM BUNCHING UP IN FRONT MATERIALS: FOLDOVER CONTOURED WAISTBAND SLICK POLYESTER/SPANDEX KNIT _ FOLDED & BONDED CONSTRUCTION _ 4-WAY STRETCH _ MINIMIZES BULK, PREVENTS CHAFING & IRRITATION _ STRETCHY & TIGHT FITTING CONSTRUCTION: _ CUT & SEWN WITH FLATLOCK STITCHING SHIFTED SIDE SEAM _ LASER CUT & BONDED EDGES PHIC _ HEAT PRESS GRAPHICSRA _ MOVES SEAM AWAY FROM PRESSURE & CHAFING OF CHAIR G ARM SLEEVES MATERIALS: POLYESTER/SPANDEX/KEVLAR KNIT _ 4-WAY STRETCH _ PREVENTS INNER ARM ABRASION FROM CHAIR ANKLE ZIPPER CONSTRUCTION: _ CUT & SEWN WITH FLATLOCK STITCHING _ EASIER DONNING & DOFFING FOR PARAPLEGIC ATHLETES _ TURNED & COVERSTITCHED EDGES _ SUBLIMATED GRAPHICS CONTOURED ANKLE _ BETTER ACCOMOCATE FLEXED POSITION OF FOOT LEG AN ~ 000000000000000 oooocoooooooooo 000000000000000 loo 0:o/0:00::::0//o 0000000000000 0 0000000000000 0 0000000000000 0 ooooooocoooo □ □ VELOX COMPETITION SINGLET MINIMAL EDGES & BODY MAPPED VENTILATION MEAN ATHLETES STAY COMFORTABLE THROUGHOUT THE RACE. NATIONAL GRAPHICS ALONG THE BACK OF THE SINGLET MAKE ATHLETES IDENTIFIABLE WHILE COMPETING VELOX ARM SLEEVES THE VELOX RACING SLEEVE PROVIDES PROTECTION THROUGH AN INNOVATIVE KEVLAR STRETCH KNIT WHILE VENTILATION & A 3/4 LENGTH MEAN ATHLETES STAY COOL VELOX COMPETITION LEGGINGS A CONTOURED SILHOUETTE & A LOW PROFILE FOLD OVER & BONDED WAISTBAND MAKES CLOTHING ISSUES DISAPPEAR TO LET ATHLETES FOCUS ON THE RACE. VELOX TEAM USA WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL BODY MAPPED STRETCH PANELS PANELING AROUND CHEST, SHOULDERS, & SIDE OF BODY TO ALLOW TIGHT FIT & FULL MOBILITY ERGONOMIC SILHOUETTE CONTOURED TO THE ATHLETE POSITIONING. FITTED SNUGLY TO INTERACT WITH RACING CHAIR GORE TEX ™ FABRICS BREATHABLE WEATHER PROTECTION TO KEEP ATHLETE DRY & COMFORTABLE MINIMAL DESIGN CONSIDERED STORAGE THAT REMAINS OUT OF THE ATHLETE’S WAY VELOX TEAM USA WEATHERPROOF TRAINING APPAREL APHIC GR ASYMMETRIC ZIPPER JACKET _ WATERPROOF METAL ZIPPER _ PREVENTS IRRITATION AT CHIN & NECK MATERIALS: STRETCH PANELING GORE TEX™ 1WAY STRETCH _ BREATHABLE WEATHER PROTECTION _ ALLOWS SHOULDER MOBILITY & TIGHT ■ _ ALLOWS FOR TIGHTER FIT & IMPROVED MOBILITYFIT WITHOUT SACRIFICING COMFORTZIP CARD & KEY POCKET NEOPRENE STRETCH _ BONDED POCKET BAG _ LASER CUT EDGES _ MINIMAL & DISCREET STORAGE _ TIGHT FIT AGAINST BODY ERGONOMIC ELBOW PANEL GORE TEX™ WOVEN _ STRETCHES TO ALLOW ELBOW BEND □ _ BREATHABLE WEATHER PROTECTIONKLE ZIPPE AN RS& DOUBLE ENDED ZIPPER GARAGE _ PROTECTS FROM IRRITATION AT CHIN & WAIST CONSTRUCTION: _ CUT & SEWN WITH SERGED OVERLOCK STITCHING BANDED HEM & SLEEVE CUFF _ SEAM SEALED FINISH _ ALLOWS FOR TIGHT FIT AGAINST HIP & _ HEAT PRESS GRAPHICS WRIST FOR OPTIMAL FIT IN CHAIR _ BONDED HEM SLEEVE FINISH CONTOURED WAISTBAND & HEM _ LONGER IN THE BACK & SHORTER IN FRONT TO ACCOMODATE FORWARD LEAN LEGGINGS MATERIALS: APHIC SHIFTED SIDE SEAM STRETCH WOVEN POLYESTER GR _ WATER REPELLANT & WINDPROOF_MOVES SEAM AWAY FROM PRESSURE _ STRETCHABLE & TIGHT FITTINGm & CHAFING OF CHAIR SPANDEX/POLYESTER KNIT □ _ 4-WAY STRETCH_ SLICK FINISH ALLOWS ATHLETES TO SLIP INTO CHAIRS EASILY RIB KNIT _ 4-WAY STRETCH SPANDEX/POLYESTER _ SLICK FINISH ALLOWS ATHLETES TO SLIP INTO CHAIRS EASILY ANKLE ZIPPER CONSTRUCTION: _ CUT & SEWN WITH FLATLOCK STITCHING _ EASIER DONNING & DOFFING FOR PARAPLEGIC ATHLETES _ HEAT PRESS GRAPHICS RIBBED CUFF _ ALLOWS FOR TIGHTER FIT AT ANKLE L JE ACG KET ARM VELOX RAIN JACKET THE VELOX RAIN JACKET ALLOWS FULL RANGE OF MOTION WHILE ALSO PROVIDING BREATHABLE WEATHER PROTECTION. A DISCREET ARM POCKET SUPPLIES SMALL ITEM STORAGE WITHOUT ADDING BULK. VELOX WEATHERPROOF LEGGING THE VELOX WEATHERPROOF TRAINING LEGGINGS OFFER A SMOOTH SILHOUETTE WITH BODY MAPPED WEATHER PROTECTION WHERE IT’S NEEDED. ANKLE ZIPPERS & A RIBBED CUFF OFFER EASY ON & OFF, AS WELL AS A TIGHT FIT. VELOX TEAM USA THERMAL LOBSTER MITT FINGER/PALM GRIP MIT _ ALLOWS BETTER GRIP OF 3D PRINTED WHEELCHAIR MATERIALS: RACING GLOVE IN WET WEATHER GORE TEX™ WOVEN & WICKING FLEECE LOBSTER DESIGN _ BREATHABLE WEATHER PROTECTION_ WARMTH ON EXPOSED FINGERS _ ALLOWS FOR INTERACTION WITH 3D PRINTED RACING □ GLOVE WITH 2 FINGER GRIP BRUSHED BACK POLYESTER/SPANDEX _ TIGHT FITTING THERMAL PROTECTION ERGONOMIC DESIGN _ MOISTURE WICKING FOR ATHLETE COMFORT D GRAPHIC _ DESIGNED TO ACCOMODATE PUSH GLOVE GRIP RIB KNIT T HA N _ POLYESTER/SPANDEX KNIT _ ALLOWS TIGHT FIT AROUND WRIST CONSTRUCTION: _ CUT & SEWN WITH LOCKSTICH & OVERLOCK STITCHING _ HEAT PRESS GRAPHICS _ SILICON GRIP LINES FITTED CUFF _ STAYS OUT OF THE WAY OF RACING CHAIR WHEELS LEF VELOX LOBSTER MITT THIS LOBSTER MITT IS DESIGNED TO INTERACT WITH THE RIGID 2-FINGERED PUSH GLOVE. A BALANCE OF STRETCH PANELING & THERMAL PROTECTION KEEP ATHLETES’ HANDS WARM & DRY IN CHILLY CONDITIONS VELOX PUSH GLOVE VELOX TEAM USA PUSH GLOVE FOAM PROTECTED HITTING SURFACE MINIMIZE IMPACT INJURY& ALLOW A MORE SECURE GRIP ON THE PUSH RIM TREAD ENHANCED VIBRAM MEGAGRIP™ RUBBER ENHANCE TRACTION IN HUMID OR WET CONDITIONS & LEND A PERFORMANCE AESTHETIC SLEEK & FLUID GEOMETRY PROVIDE A PERFORMANCE AESTHETIC TO THE PIECE & ELEVATE PERCEIVED INTEGRITY OF THE GLOVE FLARED THUMB SHAPE LESSEN FOREARM PRONATION AT THE END OF RACING STROKE TO MINIMIZE ULNAR DEVIATION, KEEP THE WRIST CLOSER TO NEUTRAL, & MINIMIZE INJURY RISK OVER TIME METALLIC FINISHES FLICKERS IN SUNLIGHT & STADIUM LIGHTING TO PROVIDE VISUAL INTEREST AS THE ATHLETE MOVES VEVLEOLXO PXU PSUHS GHL OGVLOEVE PUSH GLOVE TREAD PATTERN _ LENDS PERFORMANCE AESTHETIC MATERIALS: _ ENHANCES TRACTION ON PUSH RIM CARBON FIBER/NYLON COMPOSITE _ REPONSIVE FORCE TRANSFER FROM ATHLETE TO PUSH RIM GROOVED SHAPE CONSTRUCTION: _ EFFICIENT FORCE TRANSFER FROM ATHLETE TO PUSH RIM _ 3D SCAN MOLDED GLOVES OF ATHLETE _ COMBINE WITH BODY OF VELOX GLOVE _ 3D PRINTED EVA FOAM □ _ PROVIDES RESPONSIVE CUSIONING TO WRIST JOINTS_ ALLOWS FOR BETTER TRACTION WITH FOAM DEFORMATIONGRIP CONSTRUCTION:_ INJECTION MOLDED _IMPROVED GRIP IN HUMID CONDITIONS VIBRAM® MEGAGRIP RUBBER FLARED THUMB RELEASE _ UNPARALLELED TRACTION IN WET & DRY CONDITIONS _ ENHAANCES DURABILITY OF GLOVE _REDUCES FOREARM PRONATION TO MINIMIZE WRIST OVERUSE INJURY CONSTRUCTION: _INCREASED SURFACE AREA IS BENEFICIAL FOR HILL CLIMBING DUE TO LONGER CONTACT TIME _ MOLDED RUBBER SOFT SHEET RUBBER ERGONOMIC HANDLE _ PREVENTS DROPPED GLOVES _ERGONOMIC FIT, EXCELLENT FORCE TRANSFER CONSTRUCTION: _ STAMPED SHEET RUBBER VELOX KEEPSAKE SWEATSHIRT A CLASSIC COTTON CREW NECK TO BE WORN FOR DECADES & PASSED ON, A REMINDER OF FAST RACES & GOOD TIMES AT THE PINNACLE OF AN ATHLETIC CAREER ** ** *• ** ** *.*.* •** * , t* * , ... . *•* ....... ·***** ** *• **• **.* * *** VELOX PACKAGING • • • HANG TAG VELOX RACING KIT VELOX WEATHERPROOF TRAINING KIT VELOX RECOVERY CREW Ergonomic Fit: Contoured to the working position of Ergonomic Fit: Contoured to the working position of Perfect for travel, cool down, and lounge, the Velox • wheelchair racing wheelchair racing recovery crew is the type of garment that will wear in over time. A classic crisp cotton will soften more and Body Mapped Ventilation: Laser cut venting where Gore Tex™ Fabrics: Breathable weather protection to more with every wash. This classic piece will get racers need it most keep athletes comfortable & dry passed on and carry memories of the Paralympic games for years to come. VELOX IS A LATIN WORD MEANING “SWIFT” Protective Silhouette: Kevlar blended arm sleeves and Stretch Paneling: Moves with you to allow full full length leggings to protect against chafing mobility for optimal performance The Velox collection is the first performance apparel collection designed in accordance with the unique ergonomic, physiological, and mobility * * * needs of the elite women’s wheelchair racing athlete. Extensive research & athlete insights went into creating garments designed to disappear and allow athletes to focus on performance. • • • Tokyo 2021