Differences in kinematic and match-play demands between elite winning and losing wheelchair padel players

Abstract

We aimed to compare the match-play and kinematic demands of the translation and rotation movements of elite wheelchair padel players as a function of match results. Twenty-two elite male players were video-analysed with a two-dimensional direct linear transformation (DLT) -corrected video system across seven matches of a professional tournament. Distance, turns, changes of direction, linear and angular speed, acceleration and the players’ heart rate (HR) were recorded. Losing couples in wheelchair padel covered greater distances than winners (P <0.001; r = 0.024) and did so at a higher speed (P <0.001; r = 0.06), while making greater efforts by accelerating (P <0.001; ∅ = -0.021), braking (P <0.001; ∅ = -0.014), and remaining less time stationary (P <0.001; ∅ = 0.059). In addition, losers performed more turns per rally (P <0.001; r = 0.04) at a faster speed, greater angular accelerations (P <0.001; V = 0.06) and greater average (P = 0.007; d = 0.91) and maximum (P = 0.20; d = 0.69) HR values. These data suggest that winner couples performed a better court positioning and employed a strategy to move the opponent during rallies in order to avoid them optimally reaching the ball.