Anthropometric Characteristics and Agility of Wheelchair Basketball Players : Differences and Relationship With Functional Classification

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine: (1) differences in anthropometric characteristics and agility between different functional classes of wheelchair basketball players and (2) the relationship between anthropometric characteristics and agility with the functional classification of wheelchair basketball players. The sample of participants consisted of 40 wheelchair basketball players, aged 33.9 ± 11.2 years. Anthropometric characteristics (longitudinal and circular dimensions, as well as skinfold thickness) were assessed, and agility was measured using the modified T-test and Figure-of-Eight test. The results of the one-way analysis of variance showed significant differences with very large effects between players of different functional classes in body mass, sitting height, and sitting reach height, while significant differences with large effects were recorded in the agility assessment tests: the T-test and the Figure-of-Eight test. Also, the results of the correlation analysis indicate that there are significant moderate positive correlations of sitting height and reaching height with functional classification.

Construction of a sport-specific strength and conditioning evaluation index system for elite male wheelchair badminton athletes by the Delphi method

“…Turbanski et al [7] performed upper body strength training on wheelchair athletes from different disciplines for eight weeks with a bench press load of 80% of 1 RM (Repetition maximum, which refers to the maximum number of consecutive times a person can perform a certain action under a certain weight) five sets of 10-12 repetitions twice a week with 3-5 minutes' intervals, and observed a significant improvement in upper body strength and explosive strength parameters. In another study, Stojanović et al [8] tested the agility of wheelchair basketball athletes using modified T-run and 8-run wheelchair movement tests and identified significant differences in the agility of wheelchair basketball athletes in different classes. Cherif et al [9] tested body shape indicators (height, weight, sitting height, arm span and skinfold thickness) and strength and conditioning indicators (vertical jump, drop jump, reverse jump, deep squat jump, fold run, and yo-yo run) in disabled track and field athletes to identify differences in physiological characteristics and athletic performance between several categories of athletes with cerebral palsy, upper arm amputation, short stature, and mental retardation.…”