Wheeled mobility skills of wheelchair basketball players: a randomized controlled study

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the influence of wheelchair basketball sport on the functional abilities of wheelchair users.

Method: This is a randomized controlled study. Wheelchair basketball players (n = 111) and non-player (n = 85) were included in this study. We administered the questionnaire version of the wheelchair skills test questionnaire (WST_Q), recording the participants’ capacity and performance scores on each of 32 skills.

Results: Player group have the baseline values of WST_Q higher than control group. The mean total percentage score of player group was significantly greater than control group (p < 0.05). The get over 15 cm level (respectively, rations of capacity and performance of groups: player/control: 50.5–20% and 54.1–24.7%) and the ascends 10° incline (player/control 96.4–48.2% and 98.2–54.1%).

Conclusions: Participation in regular wheelchair basketball sport may preserve and augment functional abilities in with wheelchair user

Implications for rehabilitation

• The skills-sports relationship is reciprocal. With increased wheelchair skills, people may be more inclined to engage in sports; subsequently, with greater sports, wheelchair skills could improve.

• Wheelchair mobility skills during clinical rehabilitation should reflect the daily activities and needs of each wheelchair user. WST-Q provides advantages in terms of requiring less time and material in using of clinical.

Keywords:

• Activities of daily living
• disabled people
• sports

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.