With or without straps? A pilot study to investigate whether restraint devices affect the wheelchair basketball players' performance

How does classification score affect falls in wheelchair basketball? A video-based cross-sectional study on the Italian national team during the European Para Championships 2023

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of falls in male elite wheelchair basketball (WB) players and to analyse the falls characteristics considering their classification score which ranges from 1.0 to 4.5 and it is related to their functional capacity and particularly to their volume of action.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional video analysis was conducted using European para championships 2023official match videos.

SETTING

Players of the sample team were divided into 2 groups according to their classification point: low-point players (LPP) and high-point players (HPP). Every occurred fall was systematically analysed focusing on falling related characteristics and game circumstances.

PARTICIPANTS

Twelve WB players of the Italian national team.

MAIN OUTCOME

Number of falls and mechanism of falls.

RESULTS

The results showed a higher number of falls for HPP and highlighted a statistically significant differences between LPP and HPP for the fall direction, the playing time and the first anatomical site in contact with the floor.

CONCLUSION

Results reported significant differences between LPP and HPP in terms of mechanism of fall. Further studies should focus on the development of new preventive training strategies tailored to WB players with different levels of impairments to reduce fall related injuries.

Adverse effects of unilateral transfemoral amputation on para-alpine sit skiers and mitigation methods

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the adverse effects of unilateral transfemoral amputation on neuromuscular and kinematic parameters in alpine sit skiers, and to determine if additional restraints on the human-bucket interface could help mitigate the effects.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional, repeated measures study.

METHODS

Simulated skiing tests were conducted indoors involving 10 skiers with unilateral transfemoral amputation and 10 able-bodied participants. A Paralympic silver medalist performed slalom skiing tests on snow. These tests were conducted with and without additional strapping on the residual limb. Surface electromyography of trunk muscles and athletic performance was measured, and the asymmetry index was calculated.

RESULTS

Athletes were significantly dependent on muscle activation on the dominant side (asymmetry index = 7.8 %-28.3 %, p < 0.05). Worse athletic performance to the dominant side was found based on inclination angles of the indoor board (asymmetry index = -9.8 %, p = 0.014) and outdoor sit ski (-11.1 %, p = 0.006), and distance to the gate poles during skiing turns (18.6 %, p < 0.001). After using additional restraints, the above asymmetry index declined significantly (asymmetry index < 4.5 %, p < 0.05). Furthermore, athletic performance was significantly improved on both body sides by 11.1 %-30.7 % (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Unilateral transfemoral amputation caused the dependence on the trunk muscles of the dominant side and the corresponding unilateral poor performance in athletes. Adjusting restraints in the human-equipment interface by additional strapping could mitigate the asymmetry issues and improve athletic performance.

Reliability of anaerobic and aerobic mobility performance tests used in wheelchair rugby, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Understanding the reliability and validity of field-based mobility and performance tests used within the wheelchair sports of basketball (WCB), rugby (WCR) and tennis (WCT) can assist in understanding an athletes' physiological state, training effects, and/or assist with optimising their wheelchair-user interface.

PURPOSE

To examine, evaluate and synthesize current aerobic and anaerobic field-based mobility and performance tests used in WCB, WCR and WCT.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they investigated performance tests in WCB, WCR and WCT and reported reliability.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies covering 45 mobility/performance tests were included (anaerobic, n = 35; aerobic, n = 10), with agility and repeated sprints (n = 13) being the most common, followed by linear-sprints (n = 11). Repeated sprint ability (n = 2) and submaximal field-tests (n = 2) were the least frequent. Intra-class correlations among all tests ranged from 0.62 to 0.99, with agility and repeated sprints being 0.65-0.98, followed by values of 0.62-0.99 for linear-sprint, 0.96-0.99 for repeated sprints and 0.85-0.97 for submaximal field-tests.

CONCLUSION

The most frequently measured performance tests were anaerobic tests focusing on agility and repeated sprints. Given the low number of aerobic tests in WCB, WCR and WCT, future research should focus on reliable and valid ways to measure and track performance.