The affects of wheelchair basketball sport on upper extremity functionality

This study consists of determining the upper extremity functionality in wheelchairbasketball players, comparing the upper extremity functionality of the first andsecond league players who play in Türkiye Wheelchair Basketball League, andhigher and lower body controlled players who designed according to points frominternational wheelchair federation classification system. 60 players has participatedthe study. Players were divided into two groups according to the league that they arebelong to and the points they get from international wheelchair basketballclassification system. A questionnaire has been designed to investigate maincharacteristic features of wheelchair basketballing. To determine the level of theirupper extremity functionality; some variables like body index, upper extremity rangeof motion, isometric muscle strenghts, isometric and isotonic muscle endurance,audio and visual simple reaction times, velocity, hand abilities and shoulder pain areevaluated. It?s not found out a significant difference between two groups (higher andlower body controlled players) according to the variables like wheelchair propulsiontime(year), active sport years, weekly working hours, weekly training hours, upperextremity range of motion, isometric muscle strenghts, right and left isometric andisotonic muscle endurance, audio and visual simple reaction times, velocity andpurdue pegboard hand ability retardation period, test on higher and lower bodycontrolled players (p>0.05). We found out a significant difference between higherand lower body controlled players in respect to their period of being handicapped,number of transfers they?ve made, right and left internal rotation ROM, left forearmsupination ROM, velocity and PC-WUSPI score (p<0.05). Another finding is thatthe total PC-WUSPI score was higher in lower body controlled players (p<0.05).Another significant differences between I. and II. League players were; rightshoulder flexion isometric muscle strenght and perceived shoulder pain during dailylife activities at home or school (p<0.05). There is a correlation players? period ofbeing handicapped and their weekly training hours with their WUSPI scores(p<0.05). Another correlation was found between wrist flexion isometric musclestrenght and velocity (p<0.05). Another correlation was found between left forearmpronation ROM and isotonic endurance (p<0.05). According to the findings thefunctional levels of wheelchair basketballers must be evaluated and new training andrehabilitation programs specific to the players must be designed through the pointsand functional capacities of players.Keywords: Wheelchair basketball sports, WUSPI, functional capacity