Factors Influencing Speed of Collegiate Wheelchair Basketball Players.
Research in the field of adaptive sport has been growing. Physical activity has tremendous benefits for an individual’s health, physical functioning, and social relationships. Recently, competitive
sport for people with disabilities has grown rapidly. Exercise develops social integration for people with disabilities by improving their self-confidence, self-competency and life quality.1-3 In recent
studies, the focus of adaptive sport has begun to focus on wheelchair propulsion biomechanics and optimal wheelchair configuration for the adaptive athlete to be most successful in his or her
respective sport. The two major components of wheelchair sport performance are the athlete and the wheelchair.
Wheelchair sport biomechanics research focuses on the relationship between the user and the wheelchair, as well as their ability to generate force using their upper body. Wheelchair set up and configuration plays an important role in this relationship. Previous research has shown that there is a trade-off between wheelchair configuration and capacity to generate force. The overall standards for the design of a wheelchair sports chair remains consistent for any wheelchair sport: the fit; minimizing weight while maintaining high stiffness; minimizing rolling resistance; and optimizing the sport-specific design of the chair.
Wheelchair sport biomechanics research focuses on the relationship between the user and the wheelchair, as well as their ability to generate force using their upper body. Wheelchair set up and configuration plays an important role in this relationship. Previous research has shown
that there is a trade-off between wheelchair configuration and capacity to generate force. The overall standards for the design of a wheelchair sports chair remains consistent for any wheelchair
sport: the fit; minimizing weight while maintaining high stiffness; minimizing rolling resistance; and optimizing the sport-specific design of the chair.
Sport Exerc Med Open J. 2018; 4(3): 66-73. doi: 10.17140/SEMOJ-4-164
