Effects of Maximum Strength and Acceleration Ability 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.

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.