Introduction: Wheelchair basketball (WB) is prob‌ably the most popular sport for the disabled. In basketball players with different functional limitations, the players’ level of trunk function directly affects the performance of different skills. Wheelchair basketball players must have an optimal strength and power to display good performance during the games. María Gil et al. (2015), reported that the parameters that mainly rely on strength and power, such as the hand dynamometry and the tests measuring throwing ability (maximal pass and the medicine ball throw) were positively related to the disability class. Likewise, participants with a higher class (class above the median) displayed the best performances. Cavedon et al. (2015), moderated to large correlations were found between assigned functional ability class and all performance variables and also forearm circumference significantly correlated with spot-shot, lay-ups and maximal pass. Thus, the aim of the study was to ascertain if the IWBF classification, the experience in playing wheelchair basketball and upper arm circumference were related to different performance field-based tests.
Methodology: 16 WB players belonging to the national WB league participated in this study. The athletes were divided into eight groups. Category A represented wheel‌chair basketball players classified as level 1.0 to 2.5 and Category B corresponded to levels 3.0 to 4.5. Basketball players’ performance tests (a maximal pass, a medicine ball throw and spot-shot. Student t-tests for independent samples were used to compare differences between Category A and B performance (P<0. 05).
Results: Our finding showed that the IWBF class was correlated to the years of dependence on the wheelchair, the maximal pass, the medicine ball throw and spot-shot (p<0.05). The experience in playing wheelchair basketball was correlated to the maximal pass, the medicine ball throw and spot-shot (p<0.05). Also, upper arm circumference correlated with the maximal pass, the medicine ball throw and spot-shot (p<0.05). Significant correlation were found between Category A and B inyears of dependence on the wheelchair, the maximal pass, the medicine ball throw, spot-shot and upper arm circumference in both, the relaxed and the contracted positions (p<0.05).
Discussion: Therefore, in this team of wheelchair basketball players, significant correlations were observed between the power and strength of the arms and the body and also technique with the IWBF classification class, the experience in playing wheelchair basketball and upper arm circumference. These results should be taken into account by the technical staff and coaches of the teams when assessing performance of wheelchair basketball players.