title: Anthropometry and Performance in Wheelchair Basketball.
abstract: This study investigated whether anthropometric characteristics, generic and specific sprinting, agility, strength, and endurance capacity could differentiate between First-Division and Third-Division wheelchair basketball (WB) players. A First-Division WB team (n = 8; age = 36.05 ± 8.25 years, sitting body height = 91.38 ± 4.24 cm, body mass = 79.80 ± 12.63 kg) and a Third-Division WB team (n = 11; age = 31.10 ± 6.37 years, sitting body height = 85.56 ± 6.48 cm, body mass = 71.18 ± 17.63 kg) participated in the study. Wheelchair sprint, agility, strength, and endurance tests were performed. The First-Division team was faster (8.7%) in 20 m without the ball, more agile (13-22%), stronger (18-33%), covered more distance (20%) in the endurance test, and presented higher values of rate of perceived exertion for the exercise load (48%) than the Third-Division team. Moreover, the individual 20-m sprint time values correlated inversely with the individual strength/power values (from r = -0.54 to -0.77, p ≤ 0.05, n = 19). Wheelchair basketball coaches should structure strength and conditioning training to improve sprint and agility and evaluate players accordingly, so that they can receive appropriate training stimuli to match the physiological demands of their competitive level.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Science, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain; and 2Guipuzcoa Adapted Sport Federation, San Sebastián, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yanci
authors.forename: Aduna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badiola
authors.forename: Aitor
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iturricastillo
authors.forename: Montse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.forename: Jurgi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olasagasti
authors.forename: Iraia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bidaurrazaga-Letona
authors.forename: Susana M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001490:Basketball / Q000502:physiology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D064846:Sports for Persons with Disabilities / Q000502:physiology*; D014910:Wheelchairs