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

Sindall, PA; Lenton, JP; Mason, BS; Tolfrey, K; Cooper, RA; Martin Ginis, KA; Goosey-Tolfrey, VL

Abstract

Purpose: Wheelchair tennis (WT) chair propulsion is uniquely characterised 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 effects of organised 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, sixteen 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 court-mobility. Differences between practice characteristics provide options for skill development and optimisation of health outcomes.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 24, 2020
• Online Publication Date: May 15, 2020
• Publication Date: May 19, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 28, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 15, 2021
• Journal: Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
• Print ISSN: 1748-3107
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-3115
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Volume: 16
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 398-406
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2020.1761892
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/17483107.2020.1761892
• Related Public URLs: http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/iidt20/current
• Additional Information: Access Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology on 15th May 2020, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/17483107.2020.1761892