Performance profile and health assessment of elite quad rugby players

Objective: Since 1992, the sport of quad rugby has gained increasing popularity in Germany. This has led to the desire to record reference parameters of func-tional efficiency. Investigation: Thirteen male, quadriplegically handicapped quad rugby players from the German league took part in the investigation. The maximum functional efficiency (W) and speed (m/s) with associated heart rate and lactate values were 45.4 $ 6.9 W, 124.0 $ 19.0 bpm, 4.07 $ 1.09 mmol/L using the arm crank. On the frictionless roller, the values were 2.17 $ 0.48m/s, 133.0 $ 19.1 bpm, 3.91 $ 1.42 mmol/L. In the field test, the values were 3.01 $ 0.64m/s, 142.1 $ 27.5 bpm, 5.63 $ 3.05 mmol/L. Comparison of the heart rate and lactate parameters at the arm crank and on the frictionless roller under maximum load revealed significantly higher heart rate (p = .037) with no sig-nificant differences in lactate (p = .660; n = 13). Conclusion: Health assess-ments in quad rugby are possible using arm crank and frictionless roller ergometry. The essential requirement for being encouraged to make use of performance assessments is that they are carried out as specific as possible with respect to the type of sport involved.