Relationship between upper-body strength and power and shooting accuracy: a comparison of non-disabled and wheelchair basketball athletes.

INTRODUCTION

Although wheelchair basketball (WCB) is one of the most popular Paralympic sports, limited research has focused on sports performance and strength and conditioning within the sport. The purpose of the present investigation is to examine the relationship between upper-body muscular strength, power, and shooting accuracy in WCB athletes and their non-disabled recreational basketball players participating in WCB.

METHODS

Twenty athletes participated in the present study, of whom ten were WCB athletes and ten were healthy college-aged recreational basketball athletes. Upper-body muscular strength and power were evaluated using bilateral handgrip strength (HGS) and the Seated Medicine Ball Throw Test (SMBT). Shooting accuracy was assessed through ten standardized 2-point field-goal attempts taken from a 5.10-meter distance. Pearson's or Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to examine associations between variables, depending on data normality, while independent t-tests were used to examine between-group differences.

RESULTS

Significantly strong positive correlations were observed between HGS, SMBT distance, and shooting accuracy in WCB athletes (ρ = 0.73-0.85, p ≤ 0.02), while non-WCB athletes displayed weak nonsignificant correlations (r ≤ 0.30, p ≥ 0.40). Between-group comparisons revealed significantly lower HGS in WCB athletes (p < 0.02, g > 0.8), while no differences were found for SMBT or shooting accuracy.

CONCLUSION

While strength contributes to shooting performance, the findings of this study indicate that it is not the sole determinant of success. Non-disabled participants did not perform better in shooting accuracy than WCB athletes, despite the biomechanical advantage conferred by higher stature, underscoring the importance of sport-specific skill and coordination. Ultimately, shooting performance depends on integrating refined technique, experience, and strength.