Report

Sprint performance and propulsion asymmetries on an ergometer in wheelchair rugby players.

Do differences in propulsion asymmetries exist between HP and LP players during sprint performance for experienced WCR players?

Lead academic:
Professor Vicky Tolfrey
Funder:
The Peter Harrison Foundation

Introduction:

Sprint performance is a key aspect of WCR. Although for a balanced wheelchair-user combination the power output (PO) on average must be the same on both sides (i.e., symmetric) to propel in a straight line, how this power production comes about can differ between the left and right sides (i.e., asymmetric).

Inherent to some of the WCR players’ health conditions, differences in strength and coordination between the left and right side are expected, especially during a sprint at maximal intensity. It is unknown as to whether asymmetries are more prevalent in HP players than at the lower end of the classification system.

Study aim: To examine the sprint performance of experienced WCR players and to determine whether differences in asymmetries existed between HP and LP players.

Methods:

  • Eighteen experienced wheelchair rugby players (8 low point (LP) (class ≤1.5) and 10 high point (HP) (class ≥2.0)) performed a 15-second sprint in their sports wheelchair on the instrumented ergometer.
  • Asymmetry was defined as the difference in distance and power output (PO) between left and right sides when the best side reached 28 m. Propulsion techniques were quantified based on torque and velocity data.

Main findings:

  • HP players covered an average 3m further than the LP players (P = .002) and achieved faster sprint times than LP players (6.95 ± 0.89 vs 8.03 ± 0.68 seconds, P = .005).
  • HP players achieved ~15% faster sprint times over 28 m than LP players, which were achieved by a higher peak PO (667 ± 108 vs 357 ± 78 W), leading to higher acceleration and consequently higher top speeds.
  • Greater asymmetries were found in HP players for distance (P = .016), absolute peak PO (P = .049), and speed (P = .009).
  • Although HP players had faster sprint times over 28 m, high standard deviations show the heterogeneity within the two groups (e.g., some LP players were better than HP players).

Reference

Goosey-Tolfrey VL, Vegter RJK, Mason BS, Paulson TAW, Lenton JP, van der Scheer JW, van der Woude LHV. Sprint performance and propulsion asymmetries on an ergometer in trained high- and low-point wheelchair rugby players. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2018 May;28(5):1586-1593. DOI: 10.1111/sms.13056.