Jagt, G.N.M. van der (Gabriëlle) (2019) Wheelchair racing propulsion technique: motor learning and mechanical efficiency after three weeks intervention with able bodied participants. thesis, Human Movement Sciences.
Full text available on request.Abstract
Background: Wheelchair racing is different from daily wheelchair propulsion in propulsion technique and equipment (1). The aim was to provide insights in motor learning processes occurring within three weeks of practice by inexperienced able-bodied participants while learning wheelchair racing propulsion on a wheelchair ergometer. Furthermore, an experienced athlete performed one session for comparison. Methods: 15 able-bodied participants (8 male 7 female, 22.01 (±1.35) years old) completed a three weeks protocol, with three sessions of 3x4 min steady-state submaximal practice. Required velocity was 2.78 m/s and resistance coefficient of 0.011, resulting in a power output of 20.5 (±4.92) and 24.2 (±2.95) Watt during pre- and post-test, on a wheelchair ergometer. During pre- and post-test the last minute of the last block of was used for analyses with additional monitoring of kinematic data. An experienced T54 athlete completed one session of the protocol with similar settings resulting in a power output of 28.4 Watt. Results: Physiological and technique variables showed improvements, gross mechanical efficiency increased from 3.9 (±0.96) to 5.3 (±0.57)%, the push frequency decreased from 81.61 (±25.80) to 52.17 (±15.34) pushes/min and the contact angle increased with a magnitude of 101.72 (±26.92) to 139.01 (±29.04)⁰. Kinematic variables showed no significant results. Conclusions: Learning wheelchair racing in three weeks causes significant improvements in efficiency and technique, comparable to previous research on motor learning. Differences between experienced and inexperienced participants decreased during post-test. Under a natural learning regime, novices showed that an improved technique consisted of a decreased push frequency (36%) and increased contact angle (37%), resulting in a higher peak force and improved gross mechanical efficiency (36%). Data of the experienced athlete showed that there is still lots of knowledge to gather to get a better understanding of the difficult task of wheelchair racing. Keywords: Wheelchair racing, motor-learning, propulsion technique, kinematics, physiology
| Item Type: | Thesis (UNSPECIFIED) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Rietveld, T. and Klerk, R. de and Vuijk, C. and Woude, prof. dr. L.H.V. van der and Vegter, dr. R.J.K. |
| Faculty: | Medical Sciences |
| Date Deposited: | 18 May 2022 10:17 |
| Last Modified: | 18 May 2022 10:17 |
| URI: | https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3358 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |