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This narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific literature on wheelchair badminton and its distinctive aspects, encompassing abilities and disabilities, propulsion technique, and the use of a racket. The relatively young history of wheelchair badminton is reflected in the scarcity of scientific studies within this domain, highlighting the need for further investigation. The review systematically covers existing articles on wheelchair badminton, offering a nearly exhaustive compilation of knowledge in this area. Findings suggest that athletes with abdominal capacities engage in more intense matches with a higher frequency of offensive shots compared to athletes with little or no abdominal capacities. Moreover, backward propulsion induces higher cardiorespiratory responses, overall intensity of effort, physiological stress, metabolic load, and rating of perceived exertion, particularly at high imposed rolling resistance or speeds, and makes it difficult to generate sufficient forces on the handrim, requiring adjustments in the kinematics of propulsion techniques, particularly at high rolling resistances or speeds, potentially leading to performance decrements. The use of a badminton racket further increases generated forces while decreasing the efficiency of propulsion and modifying the propulsion technique with shorter and quicker pushes, potentially impacting performance. Further research is imperative to explore additional perspectives, address existing gaps, and expand the scope of study within the wheelchair badminton domain. This narrative review serves as a foundation for future investigations, emphasizing the necessity of continued research to enhance our understanding of wheelchair badminton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this exploratory research is to study the impact of holding a tennis racket while propelling a wheelchair on kinetic and temporal parameters in a field-based environment. 13 experienced wheelchair tennis players with disabilities (36.1 ± 8.2 years, 76.8 ± 15.3 kg, 174.8 ± 17.1 cm) classified between 30/8 and first series performed two 20 m sprints in a straight line, on a tennis court: one while holding a tennis racket and the second without a tennis racket. They used their own sports wheelchair. Potential participants were excluded if they had injuries or pain that impaired propulsion. Maximal total force, maximal propulsive moment, rate of rise, maximal power output, push and cycle times and maximal velocity were measured. Sprinting while holding a tennis racket increased the cycle time by 0,051 s and push time by 0,011s. Sprinting while holding a tennis racket decreased the maximal propulsive moment, maximal power output, rate of rise and maximal velocity during propulsion by 6.713 N/m, 151.108 W, 672.500 N/s and 0.429 m/s, respectively. Our results suggest that the biomechanical changes observed associated with racket propulsion are generally in a direction that would be beneficial for the risk of injury. But sprinting holding a racket seems to decrease players propulsion performance. Working on forward accelerations with a tennis racket would be a line of work for coaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kinematics is studied by practitioners and researchers in different fields of practice. It is therefore critically important to adhere to a taxonomy that explicitly describes positions and movements. However, current representation methods such as cardan and Euler angles fail to report shoulder angles in a way that is easily and correctly interpreted by practitioners, and that is free from numerical instability such as gimbal lock. In this paper, we comprehensively describe the recent Tilt-and-Torsion method and compare it to the Euler YXY method currently recommended by the International Society of Biomechanics. While using the same three rotations (plane of elevation, elevation, humeral rotation), the Tilt-and-Torsion method reports humeral rotation independently from the plane of elevation. We assess how it can be used to describe shoulder angles (1) in a simulated assessment of humeral rotation with the arm at the side, which constitutes a gimbal lock position, and (2) during an experimental functional task, with 10 wheelchair basketball athletes who sprint in straight line using a sports wheelchair. In the simulated gimbal lock experiment, the Tilt-and-Torsion method provided both humeral elevation and rotation measurements, contrary to the Euler YXY method. During the wheelchair sprints, humeral rotation ranged from 14° (externally) to 13° (internally), which is consistent with typical maximal ranges of humeral rotation, compared to 65° to 50° with the Euler YXY method. Based on our results, we recommend that shoulder angles be expressed using Tilt-and-Torsion angles instead of Euler YXY. • The ISB advises reporting shoulder orientation using an Euler YXY angle sequence. • Euler YXY has a humeral rotation bias and fails in non-elevated shoulder. • The Tilt-and-Torsion method is simpler to understand and may solve these problems. • We confirm that Tilt-and-Torsion angles are coherent in sports wheelchair propulsion. • We confirm that Tilt-and-Torsion correctly reports rotation in gimbal lock position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular Paralympic sports. Dribbling a ball while propelling is a key feature of wheelchair basketball. Very few studies have investigated the biomechanical impact of dribbling. This study aims to analyze the impact of dribbling on the amplitude and symmetry of spatiotemporal and kinetic parameters of wheelchair propulsion. Ten experienced wheelchair basketball athletes (31.5 ± 10.6 years old; 7 men, 3 women) with various classifications performed eight 9-m sprints along a straight line on a basketball court: four sprints using classic synchronous propulsion, and four sprints while dribbling a ball down the court. Dribbling decreased velocity, mean propulsive moments and the force rate of rise, as well as increased push time, force rate of rise asymmetry and angular impulse asymmetry. All kinetic variables were asymmetric and higher on the dominant limb. The combination of reduced velocity and propulsive moments when dribbling indicates that wheelchair basketball athletes may deliberately preserve a safety margin of acceleration to adapt to uncontrolled ball rebounds. Dribbling was not associated with any factors associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal disorders. • This study measured biomechanics of dribbling in wheelchair basketball. • Ten experienced athletes sprinted using classic and dribble propulsion. • Dribbling decreased velocity and propulsion moments, indicating a submaximal task. • Dribbling was not associated with any musculoskeletal disorder-related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Interlimb asymmetry of strength and/or motor coordination could limit the performance of wheelchair athletes or increase their risk of injury. Studies of interlimb asymmetry in the lower limbs have shown high between‐subject variability that does not depend on the side of dominance and that does not change with fatigue. Upper limb asymmetry is particularly large in manual wheelchair athletes with a lower degree of impairment. The aim of this study was to evaluate interlimb asymmetry of forces developed during an upper limb Wingate anaerobic test, the effects of fatigue on force, and differences between high‐ and low‐point players. Method: Twenty‐five wheelchair basketball players (13 females and 12 males) of male and female national French teams performed a 30s anaerobic Wingate test on an arm ergometer. Participants were classified into two functional categories, high‐point (classed from 3 to 4.5) and low‐point (classed from 1 to 2.5), according to the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation classification. Left and right arm forces were measured during the pushing and pulling phases at peak power, 10s, and the end of the 30s test. Results: Upper limb asymmetry changed with fatigue during each phase. Force asymmetry differed between peak power, 10s and 30s, with no consistent increase or decrease. Asymmetry did not differ significantly between low‐ and high‐point players but tended to be greater in high‐point players. Asymmetry tended to be greater in the females, with significant differences between the males and females in the push phase. Conclusion: Inter‐subject variability was high, but forces were asymmetric for most participants, especially females. The Wingate anaerobic test could highlight problematic asymmetries that might impact daily life or sports performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]