200 Section - Warm-up using a Hybrid Assistive Limb🄬 lumbar type in wheelchair basketball

As a preliminary study aimed at improving wheelchair propulsion ability, we conducted a warm-up (WU) using a Hybrid Assistive Limb🄬 Lumbar Type (HAL) in able-bodied individuals and demonstrated improvements in wheelchair propulsion performance (WMP). In this study, we similarly performed WU using HAL in one athlete with impaired lower limb and trunk function to verify whether WMP could be improved. 

The patient was a 26-year-old male with a diagnosis of spastic paraplegia, 3.5 points, and 22 years of experience. WU involved the subject wearing the HAL and repeatedly standing and sitting at a speed of their choice for a total of 5 minutes. Before and after WU, the subject performed 3-3-6-m sprints, and the time required, EMG, and hip joint angle were measured.

Discussions:

The time required was reduced from 6.86 seconds before WU to 6.47 seconds after WU, with improvements observed in the push phase and deceleration phase of the first stroke. With regard to myoelectric potential, increased muscle activity was observed in the erector spinae muscles during the push phase of the first stroke and in the rectus abdominis muscles at the end of the deceleration phase. With regard to hip joint angle, increases were observed in the hip joint extension angle during the push phase of the first stroke and in the deceleration phase.

Conclusions:

WU using HAL activates hip joint angle and trunk EMG activity during wheelchair propulsion, and may contribute to improving wheelchair propulsion ability.