Field test evaluation of aerobic, anaerobic, and wheelchair basketball skill performances

Forty-six male wheelchair basketball players performed a set of field rests to evaluate aerobic capacity (25 m shuttle run), anaerobic capacity (30 s sprint), and six specific wheelchair basketball skills. Overall test-retest reliability (n = 20) ranged from r = 0.65 to r = 0.97. To study the validi ty (criterion related evidence) of the shuttle run test, heart rate (HR) wa s recorded for 15 subjects, who also performed a continuous, multistage arm cranking exercise until volitional fatigue. Moderate to high correlations were calculated between shuttle run distances covered (1375 +/- 243,6 m) an d (V) over dot O(2)max (2208 +/- 461.6 mL/min) and POmax (93.8 +/- 17.97 W) , measured during maximal arm cranking (respectively r = 0.64 and r = 0.87) . Maximal HR during shuttle run (174.9 +/- 16.6 B/min) and arm cranking (16 9 +/- 14.21 B/min) were correlated (r = 0.78). High correlations between sh uttle run test and anaerobic field tests, however, indicate high implicatio n of anaerobic and wheelchair manoeuvrability performances. The 30 s sprint test was validated (n = 15) against a Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) on a r oller ergometer. Comparing distance (field test: 90 +/- 6.7 m) with mean po wer output (WAnT: 852.1 +/- 234.9 W) the correlation was r = 0.93. Principa l components factor analysis identified 'wheelchair propulsion dynamics' an d 'eye-hand-coordination' as the underlying constructs of the six skill pro ficiency measurements, accounting for 80.1% of the variance. In conclusion, the newly developed field test battery is a reliable and valid tool for; a naerobic capacity and skill proficiency assessment in wheelchair basketball players.