Abstract
Introduction: Benchmarking of physical and performance characteristics in wheelchair basketball is an essential process for the optimisation of talent identification, training specificity, and competition preparation. Accordingly, describing the physical characteristics of elite wheelchair basketball athletes in peak condition (i.e., prior to key international competitions) is required. Given the nature of the sport, where athletes with a range of disabilities compete together, classification-specific targets founded upon disability-based physical capabilities are crucial. Therefore, this study aims to describe the physical characteristics of low- and high-point male elite wheelchair basketball athletes prior to the Paralympic Games.
Methods:
Sixteen male athletes from the Australian national wheelchair basketball squad were tested during a training camp before the 2021 Paralympic Games. Anthropometrics (sitting height, sitting reach height, arm span), speed and acceleration ability (3m, 5m, 10m, 20m push), change of direction performance (L-change of direction test), aerobic capacity (30-15 intermittent fitness test [30-15]), and upper-body power (bench throw) were assessed. Athletes were grouped according to the accepted International Wheelchair Basketball Federation disability classification system (scale: 1.0-4.5) as low- (≤2.5, more severe impairments, n=6) and high- (≥3.0, less severe impairments, n=10) point athletes. Comparisons between groups were assessed by an independent samples t-test. Spearman's rank correlation assessed the relationships between athlete classification and physical test results.
Results:
Compared to low-point athletes, high-point athletes had taller sitting height (High: 148.77±9.47cm, Low: 130.48±7.14cm, p=0.001), taller sitting reach height (High: 203.96±10.68cm, Low: 183.20±9.06cm, p=0.001), faster 20m push (High: 5.03±0.16s, Low: 5.24±0.13s, p=0.017), faster 3m, 5m, and 10m splits (p=0.004-0.010), and were faster on the L-change of direction test (High: 8.55±0.39s, Low: 9.93±0.74s, p<0.001). No differences were found between high and low-point groups for arm span (p=0.189), 30-15 (p=0.401), or bench throw (p=0.261). Strong to very strong relationships were observed between classification and the following tests: sitting height (r=0.83, p<0.001) and sitting reach height (r=0.83, p<0.001), the 3m (r=-0.66, p=0.015) and 10m split (r=-0.50, p=0.048) of the 20m push test, and L-change of direction (r=-0.77, p<0.001).
Discussion:
Sitting height, sitting reach height, speed, acceleration, and performance during change of direction tests discriminated between athlete disability classification. Low-point athletes in this cohort were all athletes with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) resulting in decreased trunk control. Athletes with SCIs generally adopt a deeper-seated position in their customised basketball wheelchair to gain stability, which decreases their stature and is likely the cause of the performance differences noted between high- and low-point athletes.
Impact/Application to the field:
These results can be used to form classification-specific normative testing targets and talent identification for elite male wheelchair basketball athletes. While trunk control is a limiting factor, it may not be trainable in low-point athletes with SCIs, depending on the level and completeness of the injury. Wheelchair skill and upper-body strength and power are other trainable factors that have been shown to increase performance in athletes with SCIs. Coaches and practitioners must consider targeted strategies for developing speed, acceleration, and change of direction ability for low-point athletes such that tactical influence and game plans can be optimised.
Declaration:
My co-authors and I acknowledge that we have no conflict of interest of relevance to the submission of this abstract.