Sprint performance and force application of tennis players during manual wheelchair propulsion with and without holding a tennis racket.

Ilona Alberca,Jean-Marc Vallier,Didier Pradon,Félix Chénier,Arnaud Faupin,Éric Watelain,Marjolaine Astier,Yih-Kuen Jan

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0263392

Abstract

The objective of this exploratory research is to study the impact of holding a tennis racket while propelling a wheelchair on kinetic and temporal parameters in a field-based environment. 13 experienced wheelchair tennis players with disabilities (36.1 ± 8.2 years, 76.8 ± 15.3 kg, 174.8 ± 17.1 cm) classified between 30/8 and first series performed two 20 m sprints in a straight line, on a tennis court: one while holding a tennis racket and the second without a tennis racket. They used their own sports wheelchair. Potential participants were excluded if they had injuries or pain that impaired propulsion. Maximal total force, maximal propulsive moment, rate of rise, maximal power output, push and cycle times and maximal velocity were measured. Sprinting while holding a tennis racket increased the cycle time by 0,051 s and push time by 0,011s. Sprinting while holding a tennis racket decreased the maximal propulsive moment, maximal power output, rate of rise and maximal velocity during propulsion by 6.713 N/m, 151.108 W, 672.500 N/s and 0.429 m/s, respectively. Our results suggest that the biomechanical changes observed associated with racket propulsion are generally in a direction that would be beneficial for the risk of injury. But sprinting holding a racket seems to decrease players propulsion performance. Working on forward accelerations with a tennis racket would be a line of work for coaches.

Highlights

Wheelchair Tennis (WT) was created in 1970 and included in the Paralympic program in 1992 at the Barcelona Paralympic Games [1, 2]
Propelling while holding a racket decreased rate of rise and maximal power output and increased cycle time which contradicts our hypothesis since it’s considered as protective factors against the risk of injury [15]. Those results suggest that while holding a racket, the biomechanical changes observed are generally in a direction that would be beneficial for the risk of injury, but reduce performance compared to propelling without using the racket
Maximal power output and maximal velocity decreased in association with an increase in push time and cycle time when propelling while holding a racket

Summary

Introduction

Wheelchair Tennis (WT) was created in 1970 and included in the Paralympic program in 1992 at the Barcelona Paralympic Games [1, 2]. This sport has gained in popularity throughout the world because it positively affects amputees and persons with spinal cord injuries [3,4,5,6,7]. The trajectory of the tennis ball involves the making of intermittent, multidirectional and non-. Impact of holding a tennis racket on tennis player and Networked Services Impact of holding a tennis racket on tennis player and Networked Services (DANS; https://doi.org/10. 17026/dans-xjf-bs8v)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion