The Effect of a Newly Developed Hand Rim on Mobility Performance and Propulsion Technique in Wheelchair Tennis Players
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Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Department of Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Behavioral and Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Purpose: To investigate the effect of a newly developed hand rim in wheelchair tennis players from a lab and field perspective. Methods: Nine wheelchair tennis players performed a set of field and lab tests with the new rim (NR) and regular rim on the racket side. Each player had a 60- to 120-minute regular training session with the NR. Three wheelchair tennis field tests (20-m sprint, Illinois, spider) were completed on a hard court using inertial measurement units. The inertial measurement units enabled analysis of linear/rotational velocity and acceleration. In the lab, two 4-minute submaximal tests (at 1.5 and 2 m/s, 0.2 W/kg), followed directly by a 5-second sprint, on a wheelchair ergometer were completed. Force and velocity were measured continuously throughout all tests. Mixed linear models investigated the effect between the 2 hand rims. Results: During the spider test, mean rotational velocity to the racket side (−2%, P = .005) was lower in the NR, and end times were similar between hand-rim conditions. No differences were observed in the 20-m sprint and Illinois field tests. In the lab, contact angle (+6%, P = .04), cycle time (+12%, P = .007), and work per push (+13%, P = .005) were higher in the NR during submaximal propulsion. Work per push (+13%, P = .007), peak velocity (+3%, P < .001), and distance covered (+4%, P = .02) were higher with the NR during the 5-second sprint test. Conclusions: The NR seems slightly favorable compared with the regular rim during performance testing on a wheelchair ergometer in wheelchair tennis players. A longer practice time might show more insights between the hand-rim types.
Janssen https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7480-3779
van der Woude https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8472-334X
Vegter https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4294-6086
de Groot https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8463-2563
Rietveld (t.rietveld@lboro.ac.uk) is corresponding author, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7753-9958
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