Abstract:

Introduction: Wheelchair basketball is physically demanding, requiring a high level of physical skills and qualities such as speed, agility and rapid strength of the upper limbs, especially the muscles involved in wheelchair propulsion. Objective: To analyze the effects of muscle strength training on agility and speed in wheelchair basketball players. Materials and Methods: This quasi-experimental quantitative study was carried out with eight male wheelchair basketball players from the Maranhão Parasports Association, five with spinal cord injuries, two amputees, and one with arthrogriposis. All performed anthropometric measurements and tests of agility, speed and maximum repetition and were submitted to strength training for 12 weeks. In agility, the zigzag test was used; in speed, the 40m wheelchair running test and in strength a maximum repetition test was performed in four moments: initial, after four, eight and 12 weeks. The loads were 60%, 70% and 80% of a maximum repetition, readjusted every four weeks for retesting. Discussion: Positive responses to strength training reduced speed and agility rates, supporting the results of most of the studies cited. Results: In agility, the 12-week period reduced the time travelled by 8.4% and in speed by 6.6%. Conclusion: All players regardless of the type of deficiency or functional classification showed gains in muscle strength in the upper body in 12 weeks of training, decreased the time travelled in speed and agility.

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