Effects of Maximum Strength and Acceleration Ability on Performance and Training in Wheelchair Sports (OPM)

Investigation of Maximum Strength and Acceleration Ability as a Function of Grip Position and Its Effects on Performance and Training in Wheelchair Sports

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the relation between grip position and maximal strength and power in wheelchair rugby and basketball athletes. The main question is to investigate the relationship between maximal isometric force, acceleration, and sprint time.

Participants will

• pull in their sport wheelchair against a force transducer
• push in their sport wheelchair from a force transducer
• accelerate as fast as possible with one push
• accelerate as fast as possible over a distance of 20m

Researchers will compare the wheelchair basketball against wheelchair rugby players to see if there is a difference in the parameters.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Spinal Cord Injuries; Athletes; Wheelchair

Detailed Description

The study duration is approximately 2 hours per participant. First, the screening will be done and the participant does a warmup (~30 min). After that, the participant gets ready for testing, which will last for approximately 90 minutes. In each test, the participants have trial rounds to familiarize with the test procedure. The testing consist of three different exercises, the isometric strength test (IsoMST), the maximum initial push propulsion (MIPP) and the sprint. In the IsoMST a pull setup which was already used in literature and a push setup which has yet to be validated will be used. For the pull setup, the chair of the athlete is fixated on the wall which results in a static situation and allows for an isometric effort. For the push setup, a bumper is installed on the wall, against which the athletes can push with their chair. Different grip position will be measured. In the MIPP test the participants are instructed to accelerate as quickly as possible from standstill with only one push on the rim. The MIPP will be executed with several different grip positions, equal to the IsoMST. For the sprint, 20m will be marked out on a playing court. The athletes are instructed to complete the distance as quickly as possible. Several split times as well as the total time will be measured.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 10

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Switzerland
  • Lucerne
    • Nottwil, Lucerne, Switzerland, 6207
      • Swiss Paraplegic Centre

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

wheelchair athletes that are squad members in either wheelchair rugby or wheelchair basketball or doing more than 3h wheelchair basket/rugby training per week

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• squad members or doing more than 3h per week wheelchair basket/rugby training
• adequately informed and consent confirmed per signature

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy based on anamnesis
• acute illness, injury, infection, etc., which would impact the measurements.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Wheelchair Athletes; national squad athletes in either wheelchair rugby or wheelchair basketball

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
maximal pull force	The maximal isometric force produced during pulling in the sport wheelchair	during 1 second of maximal pulling

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
maximal push force	The maximal isometric force produced during pushing in the sport wheelchair	during the first second of maximal pushing
maximal acceleration	The maximal acceleration reached with one push in the sport wheelchair	during the first second of acceleration
sprint time	The time for the linear sprint over 20m in the sport wheelchair	during the last second of the 20 metre sprint

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
rate of force development	The rate of force development (RFD) in the isometric push and pull test	during the first second of maximal push
sprint distance time	The time for the linear sprint over sub distance in the sport wheelchair	during 5 seconds of the linear sprint
one push maximal speed	The maximal speed reached with one push in the sport wheelchair	during the last second of acceleration

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 20, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2023
• Study Completion (Actual): December 31, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 8, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): January 11, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 6, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 5, 2024
• Last Verified: August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: maximal strength; sprint time; maximal acceleration
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Wounds and Injuries; Trauma, Nervous System; Spinal Cord Diseases; Spinal Cord Injuries
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2023-10

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No