Félix Chénier1, Ilona Alberca2, Etienne Marquis3, Dany H Gagnon4, Arnaud Faupin2. 1. Université du Québec à Montréal, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Montreal, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, Canada. Electronic address: chenier.felix@uqam.ca. 2. Université de Toulon, Impact de l'Activité Physique sur la Santé (UR IAPS n°201723207F), Campus de La Garde, CS60584, F-83041 Toulon, France. 3. Université du Québec à Montréal, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physical Activity Sciences, Montreal, Canada; Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, Canada. 4. Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal (CRIR), Montreal, Canada; Université de Montréal, Faculty of Medicine, School of Rehabilitation, Montreal, Canada.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular Paralympic sports. Dribbling a ball while propelling is a key feature of wheelchair basketball. Very few studies have investigated the biomechanical impact of dribbling. This study aims to analyze the impact of dribbling on the amplitude and symmetry of spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters of wheelchair propulsion. METHODS: Ten experienced wheelchair basketball athletes (31.5 ± 10.6 years old; 7 men, 3 women) with various classifications performed eight 9-m sprints along a straight line on a basketball court: four sprints using classic synchronous propulsion, and four sprints while dribbling a ball down the court. FINDINGS: Dribbling decreased velocity, mean propulsive moments and the force rate of rise, as well as increased push time, force rate of rise asymmetry and angular impulse asymmetry. All kinetic variables were asymmetric and higher on the dominant limb. INTERPRETATION: The combination of reduced velocity and propulsive moments when dribbling indicates that wheelchair basketball athletes may deliberately preserve a safety margin of acceleration to adapt to uncontrolled ball rebounds. Dribbling was not associated with any factors associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders.
BACKGROUND: Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular Paralympic sports. Dribbling a ball while propelling is a key feature of wheelchair basketball. Very few studies have investigated the biomechanical impact of dribbling. This study aims to analyze the impact of dribbling on the amplitude and symmetry of spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters of wheelchair propulsion. METHODS: Ten experienced wheelchair basketball athletes (31.5 ± 10.6 years old; 7 men, 3 women) with various classifications performed eight 9-m sprints along a straight line on a basketball court: four sprints using classic synchronous propulsion, and four sprints while dribbling a ball down the court. FINDINGS: Dribbling decreased velocity, mean propulsive moments and the force rate of rise, as well as increased push time, force rate of rise asymmetry and angular impulse asymmetry. All kinetic variables were asymmetric and higher on the dominant limb. INTERPRETATION: The combination of reduced velocity and propulsive moments when dribbling indicates that wheelchair basketball athletes may deliberately preserve a safety margin of acceleration to adapt to uncontrolled ball rebounds. Dribbling was not associated with any factors associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders.