The Relationship Between Absolute and Relative Upper-Body Strength and Handcycling Performance Capabilities

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Handcycling is a demanding sport requiring significant upper-body strength.
• Understanding the relationship between strength metrics and performance is crucial for training optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between absolute and relative upper-body strength and key handcycling performance indicators.
• To identify which strength measures are most predictive of handcycling success.

Main Methods:

• Thirteen trained male handcyclists completed 1-repetition-maximum strength tests (bench-pull, bench-press).
• Participants also underwent a 15-km time trial, graded exercise test, and a 15-second sprint test.
• Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze relationships between strength and performance variables.

Main Results:

• Absolute strength showed significant correlations with gross mechanical efficiency and maximum anaerobic power.
• Relative strength measures demonstrated strong positive correlations with 15-km time-trial velocity, peak aerobic power, and peak oxygen consumption.
• Relative strength was more consistently related to various performance metrics than absolute strength.

Conclusions:

• Relative upper-body strength is a key determinant of handcycling performance, particularly in time trials.
• Training programs should focus on enhancing relative strength, potentially through a combination of increasing absolute strength and managing body mass.
• These findings offer insights for optimizing training strategies to improve handcycling race performance.