INTRODUCTION:
Wheelchair basketball is a paralympic sport characterized by intermittent high-intensity activities that require explosive strength and speed.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the effect of explosive strength training on speed and agility performance in wheelchair basketball players.
METHODS:
Ten male wheelchair basketball players (Mage=31±4 yrs) were divided into two groups [i.e. explosive strength training (ES); control (CN)] based on International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) classification scores. The ES group underwent 6-weeks of training, twice weekly, at 50% 1RM, 10-12 repetitions and 3-4 sets in addition to routine training. Effects of training were measured by the 20 m sprint test and Illinois agility test.
RESULTS:
The ES group, showed significantly higher increases in speed and agility performance (p ≤ .05).
CONCLUSION:
A short-duration (i.e. 6-week) explosive strength training programme in wheelchair basketball athletes results in significant improvements in sprint and agility performance.
wheelchair basketball; strength training; speed; agility