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

Abstract

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.

Impact of floor covering on wheelchair rugby players: analysis of rolling performance

“…Studies have shown that the same maximal speed can be achieved using different propulsion techniques. The technique parameters that are varied include propulsion cadence, force applied to the handrim, and different propulsion recovery times ( 34 ). This knowledge challenges the notion of performance degradation, since the variance in propulsion technique parameters does not necessarily imply lower performance levels.…”

SJMSS paper of the year 2023

“…In addition to this winning paper from the Physiology and Biochemistry Section, the following papers from each of the other sections were also highly commended. In the Biomechanics and Motor Control section, a paper by Briley et al 2 studied wheelchair rugby players using threedimensional thorax and bilateral glenohumeral kinematics following a sports-specific intermittent sprint protocol. The results showed that the wheelchair rugby players were able to maintain sprint performance by altering kinetics, joint kinematics, and asymmetries of wheelchair sprinting.…”