The Effectiveness of Warm-Up Using an Assistive Device in Wheelchair Basketball: A Feasibility Study of Able-Bodied Participants

Introduction A warm-up is often performed to prevent injury and prepare for optimal performance. Nonetheless, research on its impact on performance, particularly in para-sports, remains limited. We hypothesized that the use of an assistive device during warm-up would enable wheelchair basketball players to perform full-body movements efficiently and effectively, contributing to enhanced wheelchair mobility. Therefore, this feasibility study aimed to assess the safety of warm-up exercise with an assistive device and the changes in wheelchair mobility performance before and after warm-up in able-bodied participants. Methods Thirteen able-bodied participants (nine males and four females; mean age: 34.3 ± 6.11 years) were analyzed. Warm-up consisted of a five-minute stand-up exercise using the lumbar-type Hybrid Assistive Limb