The Role of Trunk Stabilization in Functional Classification Levels.

OBJECTIVE: To compare classification levels and trunk stabilization of wheelchair basketball players and to identify the norm values of trunk balance for wheelchair basketball players.

PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and thirteen wheelchair basketball players in the super and first Turkish league volunteered for this study.

INTERVENTIONS: A modified Wheelchair Skills Test (WST) (Version 4.1) was used for the evaluation of the trunk stabilization. Chosed two skills which correspond to the stationary wheelie activity in WST, "30s stationary wheelie" and "stationary wheelie in 180°".

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: There are no statistical differences between WST rates and the means of points.

RESULTS: The skills, success and safety rates of the players with point 1.5 (51.9 %, 44.4 %) were lower than the players with point 1.0 (70 %, 66.7 %). In players with point 2.5 and 2.0, the most successful and safe percentage values were 78.6 %, 78.6 % and 82.1 %, 75 %.

CONCLUSIONS: Although it is expected that the trunk stabilization would be better in the players with high points, in our study we encountered conflicting results between the points and sitting balance or trunk stabilization. Our study supports the studies in the literature suggesting modifications in the functional classification system.