Background & Aims: Wheelchair basketball players rely on upper body strength. It is well established that strength training potentiates muscle hypertrophy and improves strength. But the anabolic and catabolic effects of upper body strength training have not yet been studied in female wheelchair basketball players. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 8 week upper body strength training on serum IGF-1 and cortisol, and performance in female wheelchair basketball players.

Materials & Methods: Materials and methods: 18 female wheelchair basketball players volunteered (age=29.51±2.6 years, weight =66.35±14.59 kg) to participate in this study. They were randomly assigned into either a control (regular wheelchair basketball training) or an experimental (regular wheelchair basketball training+ upper body strength training) group. Either group participated in an 8week training program.  Pre and post exercise serum IGF-1, cortisol and also performance tests results were analyzed using independent t- test, dependent t- test and covariance.

Results: There were no significant differences between group in post-test IGF-1 , cortisol and performance test( penalty shoot, left and right side shoot and three point shoot), except baseball style throwing which was significantly better in the experimental group than the control(P<0.05).

Conclusion: Based on these results it can be said that upper body strength training can improve strength dependent skills in wheelchair basketball players, but does not result any significant anabolic and catabolic effects.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2017: 27(10): 847 ISSN: 1027-3727