Paralympians competing in wheelchair sports may experience a very high glycolytic demand (and therefore acidotic environment) in their upper-body muscles, particularly in high-intensity disciplines. Previous studies from our group have shown that upper-body exercise is very sensitive to the ergogenic effects of β-alanine supplementation and to other nutritional supplements capable of increasing buffering capacity. In line with this, have shown that upper-body muscle groups benefit more from artificially induced alkalosis than lower-body muscle groups. Although β-alanine appears to be an interesting and potential ergogenic supplement for paralympians, no study to date has assessed its potential in wheelchair athletes.In this study, we will evaluate the effects of β-alanine supplementation on upper-body performance in wheelchair athletes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Paralympian training for any exercise modality for at least one year;
• A weekly training volume of 6 hours or more;
• Have a spinal cord injury accompanied by loss of motor function in the lower limbs for at least one year;
• Available for carrying out the experimental procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Use of creatine or beta-alanine for at least 3 and 6 months before the trial;
• Cardiovascular or respiratory disease;
• Clinical condition that result in malabsorption of nutrients;
• Any other medical condition that prevents the realization of experimental procedures.