Ball possessions and game rhythm in basketball games involving players with and without intellectual impairments.

BACKGROUND: Ball possessions and game rhythm are promising variables to better understand teams' collective behaviour during a basketball game. However, the role of these variables is not well documented in teams with intellectual impairments (II). This study aimed to explore ball possession and game rhythm differences between II and non-II basketball games. METHODS: Data were obtained through video observations (53 II games) and the International Basketball Federation records (53 non-II games). RESULTS: Independent t-tests (P ≤ 0.05) revealed that the number of ball possessions was higher and game rhythm was faster in II games. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (P ≤ 0.05) showed that ball possessions and game rhythm developed differently throughout the II games compared with the non-II games. CONCLUSIONS: The differences may be due to the decision-making, tactical and self-regulatory limitations of players with II. These limitations adequately explain why players with II respond differently to the environmental cues and monitor insufficiently their actions compared with players without II. Additionally, the higher number of ball possessions and the faster game rhythm in II games could be an indicator of more intuitive, and thus faster, game-related decision-making. In conclusion, the study provides further understanding of the role of cognition in basketball and contributes to better explain the differences between II and non-II games.

Autoestima en personas con daño cerebral adquirido según práctica de actividad física / Self-esteem in people with acquired brain injury according to physical activity

La literatura científica señala la importancia de la actividad física (AF) en las personas con daño cerebral adquirido (DCA) para mantener su salud y funcionalidad; sin embargo, en general presentan secuelas crónicas, bajos niveles de AF y baja autoestima. Con el objetivo de analizar la autoestima en personas con DCA en fase crónica en función de la práctica de AF, se realizó un estudio quasi-experimental ex post facto, comparando dos grupos: personas que realizaban AF(n=50)y personas que no realizaba AF(n=49), evaluando la autoestima con la Escala de Rosenberg. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y se utilizó la prueba T para muestras independientes. Así, el grupo que realizó AF mostró mejor autoestima y mayor autonomía personal (p≤0.05). Por ello, se recomienda la práctica de AF para mejorarla autoestima en personas con DCA. Además, haber practicado AF antes del DCA parece ser determinante para su práctica a posteriori. (AU)

People with acquired brain injury (ABI) have long-term consequences and show low levels of physical activity (PA), presenting worse self-esteem. Nevertheless, it is proven that the practice of PA in people with ABI improve psychological dimension. The aim was to study if self-esteem in people with ABI in the chronic phase is influenced by PA practice. A quasi-experimental ex post facto design was used, where there were two groups: PA group (n=50) and the sedentary group (n=49). The Rosenberg Scale was used to measure self-esteem. A descriptive analysis was carried out and the T test for independent samples was used. People who practice PA perceived better self-esteem and higher autonomy (p ≤0.05). Therefore, the practice of PA is recommended to improve self-esteem in people with ABI. Furthermore, having practiced PA before the ABI seems to be decisive for its subsequent practice. (AU)

¿Cómo prevenir el dolor de hombro en baloncesto en silla de ruedas? / How to Prevent Shoulder Pain in Wheelchair Basketball?

Las lesiones del hombro suponen un problema en el baloncesto en silla de ruedas (BSR). El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la eficacia de un programa de ejercicio para el dolor del hombro en jugadoras de máximo nivel de BSR para tras 12 semanas de intervención a lo largo del proceso preparatorio de una competición internacional. Participaron 13 jugadoras de BSR de la Pre-Selección Española Femenina (edad 26.6 ±6.1 años), respondiendo a un cuestionario de DH antes y después del programa de ejercicio, evaluando también el rango de movimiento (RM) y aplicando pruebas funcionales. El DH se redujo significativamente después de la intervención (Z=-2.93, p≤0.05, d=0.67), pero sin cambios significativos ni en las pruebas funcionales (p≥0.05) ni en el RM (p≥0.05). El programa de ejercicio resultó efectivo para la reducción del DH durante el proceso de preparación, lo que influyó de manera positiva en rendimiento deportivo de las jugadoras. (AU)

Shoulder injuries are a problem in wheelchair basketball (WB). The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a 12 weeks exercise program for shoulder pain (SP) prevention in elite WB players throughout the preparatory process of an international competition. 13 WB players from the Spanish Women's Pre-Selection (age 26.6 ± 6.1 years) participated in the study. The SP questionnaire was applied before and after the exercise program, as well as functional tests and range of motion (ROM). SP was reduced significantly after the intervention (Z = -2.93, p≤0.05, d = 0.67). However, there were no significant changes based on the data related to functional tests (p≥0.05) and ROM (p≥0.05). The exercises program used was effective in reducing SP during the sports preparation process, which positively influenced players´ sport performance. (AU)

The importance of pacing in basketball players with intellectual impairment: Input for evidence-based classification.

Pacing places a high demand on intellectual functioning and has been found useful for classification of athletes with intellectual impairments (II). This may also be true in open-loop sports like basketball. The current study aimed to investigate the pacing behaviour of basketball players with and without II. Using time-motion analysis, the activity of elite basketball players with II (n = 37) and amateur players without II (n = 34) was coded into four movement categories over eight periods of each game: standing, walking, running and jumping. Following two-way ANOVA, an effect of group showed differences between groups in duration and frequency of the movement categories within each period of the games. Additionally, an effect of time suggested that players in both groups paced their performances. However, no interaction was found, indicating that pacing may not be different between groups. In conclusion, the results suggest that due to the dynamic nature of basketball, the included players paced more intuitively by responding to environmental cues and using less deliberate planning. The players with II demonstrated slower games, which may be due to an impaired ability to make quick moment-to-moment deliberate decisions. These skills should be further studied in the context of evidence-based classification.