Practice improves court mobility and self-efficacy in tennis-specific wheelchair propulsion.

Practice improves court mobility and self-efficacy in tennis-specific wheelchair propulsion. Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2020 May 15;:1-9 Authors: Sindall P, Lenton JP, Mason BS, Tolfrey K, Cooper RA, Martin Ginis KA, Goosey-Tolfrey VL Abstract Purpose: Wheelchair tennis (WT) propulsion is uniquely characterized by the requirement for racket holding coupled with effective hand-rim contact. Thus, investigations involving strategies to enhance chair mobility skills are merited. The aim was to examine the effects of organized practice on WT match play responses and the impact of racket holding during practice.Materials and methods: Following physiological profiling involving graded and peak exercise testing, 16 able-bodied (AB) participants performed bouts of WT match play interspersed with practice involving wheelchair mobility drills completed with (R) or without (NR) a tennis racket. A data logger recorded distance and speed. Self-efficacy was reported.Results and conclusions: Significant main effects for match revealed higher post-practice overall and forwards distances (p < 0.05), peak (p < 0.005) and average (p < 0.05) speeds and self-efficacy (SE) (p = 0.001) were attained. During practice, lower distances and speeds were achieved with R, with a lower physiological cost than NR. Practice increases court movement and SE with no associated increases in physiological cost. Changes represent enhanced cour...
Source: Disability and Rehabilitation. Assistive Technology. - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Tags: Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol Source Type: research