Wheelchair mobility performance of elite wheelchair tennis players during four field tests: Inter-trial reliability and construct validity

Inertial measurement units to estimate drag forces and power output during standardised wheelchair tennis coast-down and sprint tests

The purpose of this study was to describe and explore an inertial measurement unit-based method to analyse drag forces and external power loss in wheelchair tennis, using standardised coast-down and 10 m sprint tests. Drag forces and power output were explored among different wheelchair-athlete combinations and playing conditions (tyre pressure, court-surface). Eight highly trained wheelchair tennis players participated in this study. Three inertial measurement units (IMUs) were placed on the frame and axes of the wheels of their wheelchair. All players completed a set of three standardised coast-down trials and two 10 m sprints with different tyre pressures on hardcourt surface. One athlete completed additional tests on a clay/grass tennis-court. Coast-down based drag forces of 4.8-7.2 N and an external power loss of 9.6-14.4 W at a theoretical speed of 2 m/s were measured on hardcourt surface. A higher tyre pressure led to lower drag forces during coast-down tests on hardcourt surface (Fr (4) = 10.7, p = 0.03). For the single athlete, there was an external power loss of 10.4, 15.6 and 49.4 W, respectively, for the hardcourt, clay and grass. The current prediction of power output was implemented during coast-down testing; unfortunately, the power prediction during 10 m sprints was difficult to accomplish.

The Physical Demands of Wheelchair Tennis Match Play: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Wheelchair tennis, a globally popular sport, features a professional tour spanning 40 countries and over 160 tournaments. Despite its widespread appeal, information about the physical demands of wheelchair tennis is scattered across various studies, necessitating a comprehensive systematic review to synthesise available data.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to provide a detailed synthesis of the physical demands associated with wheelchair tennis, encompassing diverse factors such as court surfaces, performance levels, sport classes, and sexes.

METHODS

We conducted comprehensive searches in the PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases, covering articles from inception to March 1, 2023. Forward and backward citation tracking from the included articles was carried out using Scopus, and we established eligibility criteria following the Population, Exposure, Comparison, Outcome, and Study design (PECOS) framework. Our study focused on wheelchair tennis players participating at regional, national, or international levels, including both juniors and adults, and open and quad players. We analysed singles and doubles matches and considered sex (male, female), sport class (open, quad), and court surface type (hard, clay, grass) as key comparative points. The outcomes of interest encompassed play duration, on-court movement, stroke performance, and physiological match variables. The selected study designs included observational cross-sectional, longitudinal, and intervention studies (baseline data only). We calculated pooled means or mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and employed a random-effects meta-analysis with robust variance estimation. We assessed heterogeneity using Cochrane Q and 95% prediction intervals.

RESULTS

Our literature search retrieved 643 records, with 24 articles meeting our inclusion criteria. Most available information focused on international male wheelchair tennis players in the open division, primarily competing in singles on hard courts. Key findings (mean [95% CI]) for these players on hard courts were match duration 65.9 min [55.0-78.8], set duration 35.0 min [28.2-43.5], game duration 4.6 min [0.92-23.3], rally duration 6.1 s [3.7-10.2], effective playing time 19.8% [18.9-20.7], and work-to-rest ratio 1:4.1 [1:3.7-1:4.4]. Insufficient data were available to analyse play duration for female players. However, for the available data on hard court matches, the average set duration was 34.8 min [32.5-37.2]. International male players on hard court covered an average distance per match of 3859 m [1917-7768], with mean and peak average forward speeds of 1.06 m/s [0.85-1.32] and 3.55 m/s [2.92-4.31], respectively. These players executed an average of 365.9 [317.2-422.1] strokes per match, 200.6 [134.7-299.0] per set, 25.4 [16.7-38.7] per game, and 3.4 [2.6-4.6] per rally. Insufficient data were available for a meta-analysis of female players' on-court movement and stroke performance. The average and peak heart rates of international male players on hard court were 134.3 [124.2-145.1] and 166.0 [132.7-207.6] beats per minute, and the average match heart rate expressed as a percentage of peak heart rate was 74.7% [46.4-100]. We found no studies concerning regional players or juniors, and only one study on doubles match play.

CONCLUSIONS

While we present a comprehensive overview of the physical demands of wheelchair tennis, our understanding predominantly centres around international male players competing on hard courts in the open division. To attain a more comprehensive insight into the sport's physical requirements, future research should prioritise the inclusion of data on female and quad players, juniors, doubles, and matches played on clay and grass court surfaces. Such endeavours will facilitate the development of more tailored and effective training programmes for wheelchair tennis players and coaches. The protocol for this systematic review was registered a priori at the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (Registration https://doi.org/10.37766/inplasy2023.3.0060 ).

The interaction between wheelchair configuration and wheeling performance in wheelchair tennis: a narrative review

The number of wheelchair tennis players is rising internationally, yet from a scientific perspective little is known about wheelchair tennis performance. Wheelchair tennis is more complex compared to other wheelchair court sports, due to the wheelchair/racket interaction. The purpose of this narrative review was to gain insight into the influence of wheelchair configuration, i.e., the individual set-up of a wheelchair, on wheelchair tennis performance, more specifically on wheelchair mobility performance and propulsion technique. Wheelchair propulsion while holding a racket has had little attention in both the wheelchair mobility performance and wheelchair propulsion technique area. It is shown that the propulsion technique and wheelchair mobility performance are negatively affected by the racket. Based on the current literature, the influence of wheelchair configuration on wheeling performance in wheelchair tennis can mainly be described from a broader wheelchair court sport perspective, due to the lack of specific publications about wheelchair tennis. In the future more research should be conducted on wheeling performance and wheelchair configuration in wheelchair tennis, to attain a more proper scientific foundation for optimising wheelchair tennis performance.

Wheelchair Rugby Sprint Force-Velocity Modeling Using Inertial Measurement Units and Sport Specific Parameters: A Proof of Concept

BACKGROUND

Para-sports such as wheelchair rugby have seen increased use of inertial measurement units (IMU) to measure wheelchair mobility. The accessibility and accuracy of IMUs have enabled the quantification of many wheelchair metrics and the ability to further advance analyses such as force-velocity (FV) profiling. However, the FV modeling approach has not been refined to include wheelchair specific parameters.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare wheelchair rugby sprint FV profiles, developed from a wheel-mounted IMU, using current mono-exponential modeling techniques against a dynamic resistive force model with wheelchair specific resistance coefficients.

METHODS

Eighteen athletes from a national wheelchair rugby program performed 2 × 45 m all-out sprints on an indoor hardwood court surface.

RESULTS

Velocity modelling displayed high agreeability, with an average RMSE of 0.235 ± 0.07 m/s-1 and r2 of 0.946 ± 0.02. Further, the wheelchair specific resistive force model resulted in greater force and power outcomes, better aligning with previously collected measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study highlights the proof of concept that a wheel-mounted IMU combined with wheelchair-specific FV modelling provided estimates of force and power that better account for the resistive forces encountered by wheelchair rugby athletes.

A Simple and Valid Method to Calculate Wheelchair Frame Rotation Using One Wheel-Mounted IMU

Wheelchair sports have been using Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) to measure mobility metrics during training, testing and competition. Presently, the most suitable solution to calculate wheelchair speed and frame rotation is the 3IMU method as there is uncertainty about the ability of a one wheel-mounted IMU (1IMU) approach to calculate wheelchair frame rotational kinematics. A new method for calculating wheelchair frame rotational kinematics using a single wheel-mounted IMU is presented and compared to a criterion measurement using a wheelchair-frame-mounted IMU. Goodness-of-fit statistics demonstrate very strong linear relationships between wheelchair frame angular velocity calculated from the wheel-mounted IMUs and a wheelchair-frame-mounted IMU. Root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and Bland-Altman analysis show very small differences between the wheelchair frame angular velocity calculated from the wheel-mounted IMUs and the wheelchair-frame-mounted IMU. This study has demonstrated a simple and accurate approach to estimating wheelchair frame rotation using one wheel-mounted IMU during an elite wheelchair athlete agility task. Future research is needed to reexamine and compare wheelchair mobility metrics determined using the 3IMU and 1IMU solutions using this new approach.

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.

Load and performance monitoring in wheelchair court sports: A narrative review of the use of technology and practical recommendations

Quantifying measures of physical loading has been an essential part of performance monitoring within elite able-bodied sport, facilitated through advancing innovative technology. In wheelchair court sports (WCS) the inter-individual variability of physical impairments in the athletes increases the necessity for accurate load and performance measurements, while at the same time standard load monitoring methods (e.g. heart-rate) often fail in this group and dedicated WCS performance measurement methods are scarce. The objective of this review was to provide practitioners and researchers with an overview and recommendations to underpin the selection of suitable technologies for a variety of load and performance monitoring purposes specific to WCS. This review explored the different technologies that have been used for load and performance monitoring in WCS. During structured field testing, magnetic switch-based devices, optical encoders and laser systems have all been used to monitor linear aspects of performance. However, movement in WCS is multidirectional, hence accelerations, decelerations and rotational performance and their impact on physiological responses and determination of skill level, is also of interest. Subsequently both for structured field testing as well as match-play and training, inertial measurement units mounted on wheels and frame have emerged as an accurate and practical option for quantifying linear and non-linear movements. In conclusion, each method has its place in load and performance measurement, yet inertial sensors seem most versatile and accurate. However, to add context to load and performance metrics, position-based acquisition devices such as automated image-based processing or local positioning systems are required.Highlights Objective measures of wheelchair mobility performance are paramount in wheelchair court sport support, since they enable quantification of workload across athletes of all classifications and in structured field testing, training and match play settings.Given the variety of methods for load and performance monitoring in wheelchair court sports, this review: identified and examined the technology available; provides meaningful insights and decision guidelines; describes applicability for different goals; and proposes practical recommendations for researchers and sports professionals.Wheelchair mounted inertial sensors are most reliable and versatile for measuring wheelchair mobility performance and estimates of workload, yet a combination with local position measurement via indoor tracking or image-based processing could be useful to add context.For wheelchair athletes bound to a wheelchair for daily use, workload monitoring on a regular basis, both on- and off-court, is crucial to avoid overuse injuries. Alternatively, in athletes with lower severity impairments often lack frequent exposure to optimal and progressive loading, reducing the likelihood of positive physiological adaptations.

Synchronisation of wearable inertial measurement units based on magnetometer data

OBJECTIVES

Synchronisation of wireless inertial measurement units in human movement analysis is often achieved using event-based synchronisation techniques. However, these techniques lack precise event generation and accuracy. An inaccurate synchronisation could lead to large errors in motion estimation and reconstruction and therefore wrong analysis outputs.

METHODS

We propose a novel event-based synchronisation technique based on a magnetic field, which allows sub-sample accuracy. A setup featuring Shimmer3 inertial measurement units is designed to test the approach.

RESULTS

The proposed technique shows to be able to synchronise with a maximum offset of below 2.6 ms with sensors measuring at 100 Hz. The investigated parameters suggest a required synchronisation time of 8 s.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate a reliable event generation and detection for synchronisation of wireless inertial measurement units. Further research should investigate the temperature changes that the sensors are exposed to during human motion analysis and their influence on the internal time measurement of the sensors. In addition, the approach should be tested using inertial measurement units from different manufacturers to investigate an identified constant offset in the accuracy measurements.

Wheelchair skill tests in wheelchair Basketball: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to identify, describe and synthesize the skill tests used in wheelchair basketball.

METHOD

A systematic review was carried out in the databases: PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of science and Google Scholar from inception to January 2021 with up to date in January 2022. the eligibility criteria used were Inclusion: (i) evaluation of wheelchair basketball athletes; (ii) using skill tests (defined as agility, speed, ball maneuverability, slalom, etc.) and (iii) papers needed to be written in English and published in peer-reviewed journals. Exclusion: (i) papers with poor description of the test methodology, (ii) participants not classified as wheelchair basketball athletes (less than one year of practice) and (iii) Participants were not people without disabilities.

RESULTS

Our main findings were: a) the most explored skills were pass and speed, and the most frequent test was the pass tests and sprint tests, b) Strong associations were found between sports classes and performance in field tests, c) The most used tests for each skill were: pass = pass accuracy and maximum pass; speed = 20m sprint test with and without the ball; agility = slalom test; dribbling = obstacle dribbling tests and throw = free throw and spot shot.

CONCLUSION

The most explored skills were passing and speed, and to evaluate these skills we highlight the two-handed chest pass test, 20m sprint test with ball and the WMP test. The use of specific tests can facilitate the creation of reference standards and possible comparison of athletes and, thus, enable better training conditions, aiming to meet the specific demands of each athlete and team.

A newly developed hand rim for wheelchair tennis improves propulsion technique and efficiency in able-bodied novices

A new wheelchair tennis hand rim was developed, having a larger contact area and higher friction. How does this new hand rim compare to a regular hand rim regarding submaximal propulsion with a tennis racket during practice in novices? Twenty-four able-bodied novices (12 Regular Rim, 12 New Rim) completed a one-day experiment: pre-test, three practice-sessions and a post-test of 3 × 4 min each on a wheelchair ergometer (1.11 m/s, 7W). The New Rim group compared to the Regular Rim group, had a lower negative work per cycle (-0.83J vs. -2.06J, p = 0.01) at the post-test. There was a significantly larger increase in mechanical efficiency between the pre- and post-test in the New Rim group (2.3-3.4% vs. 2.1-2.5%, p = 0.02) compared to the Regular Rim group. The new rim led to a more ergonomic propulsion technique, with a reduction in negative power and higher mechanical efficiency between the pre- and post-test at submaximal propulsion.

An Automatic Foot and Shank IMU Synchronization Algorithm: Proof-of-concept

When using wearable sensors for measurement and analysis of human performance, it is often necessary to integrate and synchronise data from separate sensor systems. This paper describes a synchronization technique between IMUs attached to the shanks and insoles attached at the feet and aims to solve the need to compute the ankle joint angle, which relies on synchronized sensor data. This will additionally enable concurrent analysis using gait kinematic and kinetic features. A proof-of-concept of the algorithm, which relies on cross-correlation of gyroscope sensor data from the shank and foot, to align the sensor systems is demonstrated. The algorithm output is validated against those signals synchronized using manually annotated heel-strike and toe-off ground-truth signal landmarks, identified in both the shank and feet signals using previously published definitions. Results demonstrate that the developed algorithm is capable of synchronizing both sensor systems, based on IMU data from both healthy participants and participants suffering from knee osteoarthritis, with a mean lag time bias of 25.56ms when compared to the ground truth. A proof-of-concept of technique to synchronise IMUs attached to the shanks and insoles attached at the feet is demonstrated and offers an alternative approach to sensor system synchronisation.

Sprint performance and force application of tennis players during manual wheelchair propulsion with and without holding a tennis racket

The objective of this exploratory research is to study the impact of holding a tennis racket while propelling a wheelchair on kinetic and temporal parameters in a field-based environment. 13 experienced wheelchair tennis players with disabilities (36.1 ± 8.2 years, 76.8 ± 15.3 kg, 174.8 ± 17.1 cm) classified between 30/8 and first series performed two 20 m sprints in a straight line, on a tennis court: one while holding a tennis racket and the second without a tennis racket. They used their own sports wheelchair. Potential participants were excluded if they had injuries or pain that impaired propulsion. Maximal total force, maximal propulsive moment, rate of rise, maximal power output, push and cycle times and maximal velocity were measured. Sprinting while holding a tennis racket increased the cycle time by 0,051 s and push time by 0,011s. Sprinting while holding a tennis racket decreased the maximal propulsive moment, maximal power output, rate of rise and maximal velocity during propulsion by 6.713 N/m, 151.108 W, 672.500 N/s and 0.429 m/s, respectively. Our results suggest that the biomechanical changes observed associated with racket propulsion are generally in a direction that would be beneficial for the risk of injury. But sprinting holding a racket seems to decrease players propulsion performance. Working on forward accelerations with a tennis racket would be a line of work for coaches.

PROTOCOL FOR ASSESSING THE PRECISION OF PARALYMPIC BOCCIA PLAYERS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Although Paralympic boccia is an up-and-coming sport, demanding more and requiring higher levels of performance from athletes, protocols are not available for evaluating its indicators. Objective: To develop and verify the applicability of a new protocol for assessing the precision of athletes of the sport. Methods: Two targets with two different resolutions (0.5 [RES-0.5] and 1.0 [RES-1.0] points) were developed, graduated from 1 to 7. The protocol consists of placing the targets at 6 locations on the court, and each athlete makes two shots for each target. The best results are considered, from which total precision (TotalP), short precision (SP), medium precision (MP) and long precision (LP) are extracted. Nine players participated in the application of the protocol. The indicators of both targets were compared and verified using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEm), bias (Bland-Altman) and minimum detectable difference (MDD). Results: Only for LP were there differences between targets (RES-0.5: 9.111 versus RES-1.0: 7.167; p <0.05), while TotalP, SP and MP did not show any significant differences (RES-0.5: 23.11 versus RES-1.0: 25.39; RES-0.5: 18.22 versus RES-1.0: 17.78; RES-0.5: 9.11 versus RES-1.0: 12.44, respectively). In addition, the RES-0.5 target obtained better concordance results (ICC = 0.73; SEm = 3.45; bias = -0.5938; MDD = 8.00), while the RES-1.0 target obtained lower values (CCI = 0.53; SEm = 6.28; bias = 0.3750; MDD = 14.56). Conclusions: The proposed protocol presents excellent applicability results. However, a larger sample of athletes including more details on specific precision indicators should be performed. Level of evidence II; Prospective comparative study.

Original article: Validity of measuring wheelchair kinematics using one inertial measurement unit during commonly used testing protocols in elite wheelchair court sports

Wheelchair court sports can measure both continuous and discrete wheelchair kinematics using Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) during testing and games. A method involving three IMU (3IMU) shows good validity with motion capture systems, but the hardware cost and the need for multiple sensors may make it a barrier for implementation in a sport context. A method using only one wheel mounted IMU (1IMU) has been developed that may reduce this cost, but further validation is required. This study assessed the validity of 1IMU compared to 3IMU, across a variety of continuous and discrete measurements during common on-court testing protocols, using national team athletes. Subjects recruited from national Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby programs performed a series of sprint, agility, and pivot testing protocols. Continuous wheel speed, frame rotation, and wheelchair speed data as well as a number of important discrete metrics including peak linear and rotational speeds, were compared between 3IMU and 1IMU. Low error (RMSE < 0.15 m s^-1) and high linearity (R² > 0.99) were seen in continuous measurements for wheel speed. Similar observations were made for frame rotational speed (RMSE < 11° s^-1 and R² < 0.97) during continuous measurements. Good to excellent intraclass correlations (ICC) were observed for peak linear speeds (ICC > 0.86) and frame rotational speeds (ICC > 0.94). Overall, 1IMU offers a lower cost solution that provides valid information for pertinent outcomes in wheelchair sports to use in the field.

How Can Biomechanics Improve Physical Preparation and Performance in Paralympic Athletes? A Narrative Review

Recent research in Paralympic biomechanics has offered opportunities for coaches, athletes, and sports practitioners to optimize training and performance, and recent systematic reviews have served to summarize the state of the evidence connecting biomechanics to Paralympic performance. This narrative review serves to provide a comprehensive and critical evaluation of the evidence related to biomechanics and Paralympic performance published since 2016. The main themes within this review focus on sport-specific body posture: the standing, sitting, and horizontal positions of current summer Paralympic sports. For standing sports, sprint and jump mechanics were assessed in athletes with cerebral palsy and in lower-limb amputee athletes using running-specific prostheses. Our findings suggest that running and jumping-specific prostheses should be ‘tuned’ to each athlete depending on specific event demands to optimize performance. Standing sports were also inclusive to athletes with visual impairments. Sitting sports comprise of athletes performing on a bike, in a wheelchair (WC), or in a boat. WC configuration is deemed an important consideration for injury prevention, mobility, and performance. Other sitting sports like hand-cycling, rowing, and canoeing/kayaking should focus on specific sitting positions (e.g., arm-crank position, grip, or seat configuration) and ways to reduce aero/hydrodynamic drag. Para-swimming practitioners should consider athlete-specific impairments, including asymmetrical anthropometrics, on the swim-start and free-swim velocities, with special considerations for drag factors. Taken together, we provide practitioners working in Paralympic sport with specific considerations on disability and event-specific training modalities and equipment configurations to optimize performance from a biomechanical perspective.

Competitive Evolution of Professional Wheelchair Tennis from the Paralympic Games in Athens 2004 to Rio 2016: An Observational Study

The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the activity pattern and technical-tactical parameters of men's wheelchair tennis matches from the Paralympic Games (PG) in Athens 2004 (A), Beijing 2008 (B), London 2012 (L) and Rio 2016 (R). A total of 5702 shots from twelve final round matches were analysed. Activity patterns (e.g., rally duration, shots per rally…) and technical effectivity (e.g., errors, winners…) were recorded. An ANOVA test with post hoc pairwise comparisons was conducted to compare the mean differences among matches of different PG. Game duration, points and shots per game differed according to the PG (R and L > B and A). Rally duration (p < 0.001) and shots per rally (p < 0.001) were longer at R and L than B and A. The effectivity of the last shots was different, the errors have been increasing and the winners have been decreasing. The main finding indicates that activity patterns and technical parameters have evolved mainly between A and B to L and R. This study gives an overview of the development of the sport over time, and coaches can use this information to adapt their training sessions to the current needs of the competition.

Influence of upper-limb muscle strength on the repeated change of direction ability in international-level wheelchair basketball players

This study aims 1) to compare repeated change of direction ability (rCODA) and bench press (BP) between low (A category, ≤2.5) and high (B category, ≥3.0) sport classes and 2) to analyse the relationships between rCODA and BP performance in a sample of wheelchair basketball (WB) players. Seventeen world-class WB players volunteered participated in this study. All the players undertook two tests: the repeated (x12) Modified Agility T-test (rMAT) to measure the rCODA and the movement velocity in a BP test. No significant differences were observed between categories in the rMAT and BP. For the total sample, BP variables with a mean propulsive velocity of 1 m·s^-1 (V1_LOAD) largely correlated with all the full rMAT outcomes (r>-0.625; p< 0.05). Having a better BP could be favourable to perform repeated efforts and this seems particularly relevant in fatigue conditions, and especially for the B category players.

Tennis-specific extension of the International Olympic Committee consensus statement: methods for recording and reporting of epidemiological data on injury and illness in sport 2020

The IOC has proposed standard methods for recording and reporting of data for injury and illness in sport. The IOC consensus statement authors anticipated that sport-specific statements would provide further recommendations. This statement is the tennis-specific extension of the partner IOC statement. The International Tennis Federation Sport Science and Medicine Committee, in collaboration with selected external experts, met in June 2019 to consider athlete health monitoring issues specific to tennis. Once the IOC consensus statement was finalised, the tennis-specific consensus was drafted and agreed on by the members over three iterations. Compared with the IOC consensus statement, the tennis consensus contains tennis-specific information on injury mechanism, mode of onset, injury classification, injury duration, capturing and reporting exposure, reporting risk and study population. Our recommendations apply to able-bodied as well as wheelchair tennis players. Where applicable, specific recommendations are made for wheelchair tennis.

Wearable Wheelchair Mobility Performance Measurement in Basketball, Rugby, and Tennis: Lessons for Classification and Training

Athlete impairment level is an important factor in wheelchair mobility performance (WMP) in sports. Classification systems, aimed to compensate impairment level effects on performance, vary between sports. Improved understanding of resemblances and differences in WMP between sports could aid in optimizing the classification methodology. Furthermore, increased performance insight could be applied in training and wheelchair optimization. The wearable sensor-based wheelchair mobility performance monitor (WMPM) was used to measure WMP of wheelchair basketball, rugby and tennis athletes of (inter-)national level during match-play. As hypothesized, wheelchair basketball athletes show the highest average WMP levels and wheelchair rugby the lowest, whereas wheelchair tennis athletes range in between for most outcomes. Based on WMP profiles, wheelchair basketball requires the highest performance intensity, whereas in wheelchair tennis, maneuverability is the key performance factor. In wheelchair rugby, WMP levels show the highest variation comparable to the high variation in athletes’ impairment levels. These insights could be used to direct classification and training guidelines, with more emphasis on intensity for wheelchair basketball, focus on maneuverability for wheelchair tennis and impairment-level based training programs for wheelchair rugby. Wearable technology use seems a prerequisite for further development of wheelchair sports, on the sports level (classification) and on individual level (training and wheelchair configuration).

Practice improves court mobility and self-efficacy in tennis-specific wheelchair propulsion

PURPOSE

Wheelchair tennis (WT) propulsion is uniquely characterized by the requirement for racket holding coupled with effective hand-rim contact. Thus, investigations involving strategies to enhance chair mobility skills are merited. The aim was to examine the effects of organized practice on WT match play responses and the impact of racket holding during practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Following physiological profiling involving graded and peak exercise testing, 16 able-bodied (AB) participants performed bouts of WT match play interspersed with practice involving wheelchair mobility drills completed with (R) or without (NR) a tennis racket. A data logger recorded distance and speed. Self-efficacy was reported.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Significant main effects for match revealed higher post-practice overall and forwards distances (p < 0.05), peak (p < 0.005) and average (p < 0.05) speeds and self-efficacy (SE) (p = 0.001) were attained. During practice, lower distances and speeds were achieved with R, with a lower physiological cost than NR. Practice increases court movement and SE with no associated increases in physiological cost. Changes represent enhanced court mobility. Differences between practice characteristics provide options for skill development and optimization of health outcomes.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONWheelchair tennis participation is likely to confer positive health effects in those with a disability or physical impairment.As chair propulsion combined with racket holding represents a complex skill challenge, novices may find the sport challenging to play.Tennis-specific mobility drills improve confidence and chair propulsion skill with likely crossover into tennis match play competence and ability.