Wheelchair rugby players maintain sprint performance but alter propulsion biomechanics after simulated match play

Simon J Briley, Thomas J O'Brien, Yim-Taek Oh, Riemer J K Vegter, Mui Chan, Barry S Mason, Victoria L Goosey-Tolfrey*

*Corresponding author voor dit werk

OnderzoeksoutputAcademicpeer review

5 Citaten (Scopus)
83 Downloads (Pure)

Samenvatting

The study aimed to explore the influence of a sports-specific intermittent sprint protocol (ISP) on wheelchair sprint performance and the kinetics and kinematics of sprinting in elite wheelchair rugby (WR) players with and without spinal cord injury (SCI). Fifteen international WR players (age 30.3 ± 5.5 years) performed two 10-s sprints on a dual roller wheelchair ergometer before and immediately after an ISP consisting of four 16-min quarters. Physiological measurements (heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion) were collected. Three-dimensional thorax and bilateral glenohumeral kinematics were quantified. Following the ISP, all physiological parameters significantly increased (p ≤ 0.027), but neither sprinting peak velocity nor distance traveled changed. Players propelled with significantly reduced thorax flexion and peak glenohumeral abduction during both the acceleration (both -5°) and maximal velocity phases (-6° and 8°, respectively) of sprinting post-ISP. Moreover, players exhibited significantly larger mean contact angles (+24°), contact angle asymmetries (+4%), and glenohumeral flexion asymmetries (+10%) during the acceleration phase of sprinting post-ISP. Players displayed greater glenohumeral abduction range of motion (+17°) and asymmetries (+20%) during the maximal velocity phase of sprinting post-ISP. Players with SCI (SCI, n = 7) significantly increased asymmetries in peak power (+6%) and glenohumeral abduction (+15%) during the acceleration phase post-ISP. Our data indicates that despite inducing physiological fatigue resulting from WR match play, players can maintain sprint performance by modifying how they propel their wheelchair. Increased asymmetry post-ISP was notable, which may be specific to impairment type and warrants further investigation.

Originele taal-2English
Pagina's (van-tot)1726-1737
Aantal pagina's12
TijdschriftScandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
Volume33
Nummer van het tijdschrift9
Vroegere onlinedatum6-jun.-2023
DOI's
StatusPublished - sep.-2023

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