Aspects of the relationship between heart rate and precision of throwing in wheelchair basketball. Preliminary study

One of the most practiced disciplines for athletes with disabilities is wheelchairbasketball. At the same time, in order to achieve the highest level ofcompetitiveness, the specific training methods are based on experimentalresearch made on the players of wheelchair basketball teams engaged in officialcompetitions.The purpose of the study is to evaluate the precision ofthrowing (PoT) in relation to the player’s throwing position (TP), startingfrom the hypothesis that effort intensity, determined by heart rate (HR), couldinfluence PoT.Methods. 5 athletes (My = 30.8 ± 7.5) members of the men’swheelchair basketball team, national champion in 2009, participated in thestudy. A HOSAND system (Italy, 2005) was used for HR monitoring and, forthe determination of the PoT, each player made 10 throws at the edge of the3sec. quad from: 450 left, 450 right and from the free throw line for the 120HR, 140HR, 160HR, and 180HR crossings.Conclusions. Within the limits ofour study, the data obtained show that, for each player, the PoT depends onPT and is influenced by HR values. These data can be used by the coach todesign training sessions that aim to improve basketball and to place playerson the field on tactical pitch. However, data must be approached with cautionbecause, in their assessment and capitalization, account must also be taken ofeach player’s competitive classification (IWBF functional classification).