Effects of Maximum Strength and Acceleration Ability on Performance and Training in Wheelchair Sports

Spinal Cord Injuries Clinical Trial

— OPM  

Official title:

Investigation of Maximum Strength and Acceleration Ability as a Function of Grip Position and Its Effects on Performance and Training in Wheelchair Sports

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT06200493
• Other study ID #: 2023-10
• Status: Recruiting
• Start date: September 20, 2023
• Est. completion date: February 28, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: January 2024
• Source: Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil
• Contact: Fabian Ammann, MSc
• Phone: +41 41 939 66 24
• Email: fabian.amman[@]paraplegie.ch
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational

Clinical Trial Summary

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.

Description:

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 20
• Est. completion date: February 28, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: December 31, 2023
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• squad members or doing more than 3h per week wheelchair basket/rugby training

• adequately informed and consent confirmed per signature

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy based on anamnesis

• acute illness, injury, infection, etc., which would impact the measurements.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Athletes
• Spinal Cord Injuries
• Wheelchair

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Switzerland	Swiss Paraplegic Centre	Nottwil	Lucerne

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Switzerland, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Other	rate of force development	The rate of force development (RFD) in the isometric push and pull test	during the first second of maximal push
Other	sprint distance time	The time for the linear sprint over sub distance in the sport wheelchair	during 5 seconds of the linear sprint
Other	one push maximal speed	The maximal speed reached with one push in the sport wheelchair	during the last second of acceleration
Primary	maximal pull force	The maximal isometric force produced during pulling in the sport wheelchair	during 1 second of maximal pulling
Secondary	maximal push force	The maximal isometric force produced during pushing in the sport wheelchair	during the first second of maximal pushing
Secondary	maximal acceleration	The maximal acceleration reached with one push in the sport wheelchair	during the first second of acceleration
Secondary	sprint time	The time for the linear sprint over 20m in the sport wheelchair	during the last second of the 20 metre sprint