Effects of wheel and hand-rim size on submaximal propulsion in wheelchair athletes
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of fixed gear ratio wheel sizes on the physiological and biomechanical responses to submaximal wheelchair propulsion.
Methods: Highly trained wheelchair basketball players (N = 13) propelled an adjustable sports wheelchair in three different wheel sizes (24, 25, and 26 inches) on a motor-driven treadmill. Each wheel was equipped with force-sensing hand-rims (SMARTWheel), which collected kinetic and temporal data. Oxygen uptake (VO2) and HR responses were measured with high-speed video footage collected to determine three-dimensional upper body joint kinematics.
Results: Mean power output and work per cycle decreased progressively with increasing wheel size (P < 0.0005). Increasing wheel size also reduced the physiological demand with reductions in VO2 for 25-inch (0.90 ± 0.20 L/min, P = 0.01) and 26-inch wheels (0.87 ± 0.16 L/min, P = 0.001) compared with 24-inch wheels (0.98 ± 0.20 L/min). In addition, reductions in HR were observed for 26-inch wheels (99 ± 6 beats·min-1) compared with 25-inch (103 ± 8 beats/min, P = 0.018) and 24-inch wheels (105 ± 9 beats/min, P = 0.004). Mean resultant forces also decreased progressively with increasing wheel size (P < 0.0005). However, no changes in temporal or upper body joint kinematics existed between wheel sizes.
Conclusions: A greater power requirement owing to a greater rolling resistance in 24-inch wheels increased the physiological demand and magnitude of force application during submaximal wheelchair propulsion.
© Copyright 2012 Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Kaikki oikeudet pidätetään.
Aiheet: | vammaisurheilu pyörätuoliurheilu urheiluvälineet biomekaniikka suhde työntövoima urheilufysiologia hapenottokyky |
---|---|
Aihealueet: | vammaisurheilu urheilutilat ja urheiluvälineet |
DOI: | 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822a2df0 |
Julkaisussa: | Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise |
Julkaistu: |
2012
|
Vuosikerta: | 44 |
Numero: | 1 |
Sivuja: | 126-134 |
Julkaisutyypit: | artikkeli |
Kieli: | englanti (kieli) |
Taso: | kehittynyt |