Goalball is a unique sport for only blind and visually disabled people to prevent physical inactivity and its harmful consequences. Determining the profile of physical fitness parameters and their relationship is crucial for all sports discipline. The purpose of the study is to determine the characteristics and the relationship between isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions. A total of 14 (10 female, four male athletes) goalball athletes were included in the study. Upper-extremity, lower-extremity and trunk isometric muscle strength and pulmonary function tests measurements were performed to the athletes on two different days. The relationship between parameters was evaluated by Spearman correlation test. Strength and pulmonary function parameters were higher in male athletes (
The participation of disabled people in sports has significantly increased in recent years. In many branches, competitions are organized for disabled athletes from amateur to elite level. Increasing the participation of people with disabilities in sports is important both because of the protective effect of physical activity from chronic diseases and because it improves the self-confidence and social relations of these individuals (
Muscle strength is a critical physical fitness parameter that affects both daily life activities and sports performance (
Respiratory functions determine general health status and are an important physical fitness parameter such as muscle strength (
The relationship between muscle strength and respiratory functions has been investigated in previous studies. Some of these studies have shown that there is a relationship between the two parameters (
In the light of this information, with the hypothesis that there will be a relationship between isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions, the aim of the study is to determine the relationship between upper-lower extremity and trunk isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions of goalball athletes.
A total of 14 Paralympic goalball players (10 female and four male athletes), who were in the camp with their national teams, were included in the study. The athletes were given detailed information about the study. Verbal and written consent was obtained from the athletes and their representatives, and also the athletes’ sickness and injury history were asked. Physical examinations were performed by a sports medicine specialist. Those with active disease and injury were not included in the study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University ethics committee for the study with the number of 2020/209:26, and the study was conducted in accordance with the 2008 Principles of the Helsinki Declaration.
Athletes who agreed to participate in the study and whose consent was obtained were included in the study. The demographic characteristics of the athletes were recorded on the first day. The upper-lower extremity and trunk isometric muscle strength of the athletes were evaluated on the same day. The respiratory functions of the athletes were evaluated on the second day.
The isometric muscle strength of the athletes was evaluated with the DIERS-Myoline Isometric Muscle Strength Analysis System (DIERS International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany). Within this system, shoulder internal/external rotation, elbow flexion/extension, trunk flexion/extension, trunk lateral flexion, trunk rotation, hip flexion/extension, and hip abduction/adduction muscle strength were measured.
The respiratory functions of the athletes were evaluated with a digital spirometer (Pony FX, Cosmed, Albano Laziale, Italy). Before the evaluation, the athletes were informed about the test. It was ensured that the athletes did not eat in the last 2 hr and did rest 15 min before the evaluation. Tests were performed in a sitting position. During the evaluation, the noses of the athletes were closed with the nose clip of the device. At the same time, the athletes were asked to hold the mouthpiece tightly with their lips to prevent air from escaping around the mouthpiece of the device. Before the evaluation started, it was ensured that the athletes were adapted to the device. Each measurement was repeated three times, and the best result was recorded for statistical analysis (
Functional vital capacity was measured to determine the respiratory function values of the athletes. During the measurement, the athletes were first asked to take a breath as deep as they could and then completely evacuate the air from their lungs as vigorously and quickly as possible. As a result of the test; forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), and mean forced expiratory flow between the 25% and 75% of the FVC (FEF25%–75%) were obtained for statistical analysis.
Statistics of the study were made using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 20.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Visual (histogram, probability charts) and analytical (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test) methods were used to define whether the obtained data were normally distributed. All data were analyzed by Mann–Whitney
The age, height, body weight, isometric muscle strength, and respiratory function values of the athletes and the comparison of these values according to gender are shown in
The relationship between upper extremity isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions of athletes is given in
The relationship between lower extremity isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions of athletes is given in
The relationship between trunk isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions of athletes is given in
This study was carried out to determine the relationship between upper-lower extremity and trunk isometric muscle strength with respiratory functions of goalball athletes, with the hypothesis that there would be a relationship between isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions. To the results of the study, a relationship was found between upper-lower extremity and trunk isometric muscle strength and respiratory functions of goalball athletes.
Muscle strength is one of the important parameters affecting sports performance (
There are many studies investigating the relationship between peripheral muscle strength and respiratory functions (
The diaphragm muscle is the most important contractile district used for breathing (
Just like in the upper extremity, the relationship between lower extremity muscle strength and functional status and respiratory functions has been the subject of many studies (
Due to the small number of participants, it was not possible to evaluate the male and female athletes separately and to analyze the relationship between strength parameters and respiratory functions by linear regression. Besides, the fact that the study is a cross-sectional study does not show a cause-effect relationship. These situations can be considered as the limitations of the study. On the other hand, the fact that the study was conducted on goalball athletes with both extremities and trunk isometric muscle strength evaluations caused the present study to differ from previous studies in the literature.
It is stated in the literature that physical fitness parameters of disabled individuals are lower than their healthy peers (
The authors received no financial support for this article.
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
Age, height, body weight, isometric muscle strength, and respiratory function test values of athletes
Variable | Female (n=10) | Male (n=4) | |||||
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Mean±SD | Median | Range | Mean±SD | Median | Range | ||
Age (yr) | 19.9±3.51 | 19.00 | 15.00–25.00 | 29±3.56 | 29.50 | 25.00–32.00 | 0.007 |
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Height (cm) | 159.32±4.57 | 158.00 | 156.00–172.00 | 186.25±4.19 | 185.50 | 182.00–192.00 | 0.004 |
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Body weight (kg) | 57.58±6.45 | 55.95 | 48.7.–69.40 | 89.05±11.34 | 86.50 | 78.2–105.00 | 0.005 |
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Left elbow extension (N) | 204.8±91.54 | 211.00 | 95.00–401.00 | 300.25±122.04 | 310.00 | 142.00–439.00 | 0.089 |
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Right elbow extension (N) | 179.5±61.29 | 179.50 | 93.00–269.00 | 247.25±100.37 | 293.00 | 97.00–306.00 | 0.119 |
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Left elbow flexion (N) | 250.6±25.39 | 253.00 | 210.00–281.00 | 421.25±116.39 | 436.00 | 266.00–547.00 | 0.023 |
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Right elbow flexion (N) | 282.9±27.15 | 282.50 | 237.00–338.00 | 487±181.86 | 529.00 | 253.00–637.00 | 0.103 |
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Left shoulder ER (N) | 154±28.87 | 149.50 | 115.00–197.00 | 374±102.66 | 388.00 | 253.00–467.00 | 0.005 |
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Right shoulder ER (N) | 154.5±26.8 | 158.50 | 104.00–187.00 | 375.75±114.82 | 368.00 | 267.00–500.00 | 0.005 |
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Left shoulder IR (N) | 233.7±46.89 | 228.50 | 170.00–316.00 | 538.5±54.95 | 527.00 | 486.00–614.00 | 0.005 |
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Right shoulder IR (N) | 226.2±44.51 | 215.00 | 167.00–287.00 | 536±24.71 | 531.00 | 512.00–570.00 | 0.005 |
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Trunk extension (N) | 143.7±87.33 | 97.50 | 66.00–309.00 | 388.5±161.76 | 377.00 | 215.00–585.00 | 0.016 |
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Trunk flexion (N) | 89.9±63.81 | 72.50 | 31.00–262.00 | 160.5±54.31 | 172.00 | 93.00–205.00 | 0.034 |
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Trunk left lateral flexion (N) | 263.3±65.98 | 262.50 | 177.00–369.00 | 498.5±171.89 | 575.00 | 243.00–601.00 | 0.034 |
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Trunk right lateral flexion (N) | 268.7±85.51 | 242.50 | 146.00–420.00 | 531.75±219.14 | 508.00 | 300.00–811.00 | 0.011 |
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Trunk left rotation (N) | 256.4±70.06 | 277.50 | 146.00–330.00 | 687.75±357.97 | 581.00 | 387.00–1,202.00 | 0.005 |
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Trunk right rotation (N) | 252.8±92.76 | 280.50 | 81.00–362.00 | 553.5±277.46 | 446.00 | 367.00–955.00 | 0.005 |
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Left leg extension (N) | 355.8±69.22 | 328.50 | 270.00–479.00 | 619±112.52 | 648.50 | 470.00–709.00 | 0.007 |
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Right leg extension (N) | 350.3±81.47 | 318.00 | 259.00–531.00 | 639±116.54 | 643.00 | 497.00–773.00 | 0.007 |
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Left leg flexion (N) | 102.8±49.39 | 107.00 | 53.00–217.00 | 136.25±35.37 | 150.00 | 84.00–161.00 | 0.119 |
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Right leg flexion (N) | 121.2±60.29 | 124.50 | 51.00–260.00 | 163.25±59.89 | 154.50 | 100.00–244.00 | 0.119 |
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Left leg abduction (N) | 526.3±132.65 | 503.50 | 33.007–777.00 | 1,331.75±206.08 | 1,398.50 | 1,036.00–1,494.00 | 0.005 |
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Right leg abduction (N) | 523.2±96.92 | 497.50 | 410.00–702.00 | 1,255.5±132.29 | 1,265.50 | 1,087.00–1,404.00 | 0.005 |
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Left leg adduction (N) | 712.5±155.21 | 720.00 | 440.00–944.00 | 1,342.5±120.96 | 1,313.00 | 1,231.00–1,513.00 | 0.005 |
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Right leg adduction (N) | 719.8±172.74 | 755.00 | 420.00–968.00 | 1,424±63.73 | 1,405.50 | 1,369.00–1,516.00 | 0.005 |
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FVC (L) | 3.78±0.56 | 3.77 | 2.93–4.91 | 5.96±0.18 | 5.97 | 5.73–6.16 | 0.005 |
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FEV1 (L) | 3.22±0.38 | 3.18 | 2.79–4.10 | 4.79±0.36 | 4.85 | 4.30–5.16 | 0.005 |
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FEF25%–75% (L/sec) | 3.32±0.67 | 3.40 | 2.10–4.13 | 4.62±1.15 | 4.91 | 3.08–5.58 | 0.066 |
SD, standard deviation; N, Newton; ER, external rotation; IR, internal rotation; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec; FEF25%–75%, mean forced expiratory flow between the 25% and 75% of the FVC.
Mann–Whitney
Relationship between upper extremity isometric muscle strength and respiratory function tests of all athletes
Respiratory function test | Upper extremity isometric muscle strength | |||||||
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Left elbow extension (N) | Right elbow extension (N) | Left elbow flexion (N) | Right elbow flexion (N) | Left shoulder ER (N) | Right shoulder ER (N) | Left shoulder IR (N) | Right shoulder IR (N) | |
FVC (L) | ||||||||
Cor |
0.401 | 0.401 | 0.670 | 0.529 | 0.733 | 0.790 | 0.847 |
0.813 |
|
0.155 | 0.155 | 0.009 | 0.052 | 0.003 | 0.001 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
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FEV1 (L) | ||||||||
Cor |
0.402 | 0.426 | 0.776 | 0.693 | 0.728 | 0.803 | 0.917 |
0.815 |
|
0.154 | 0.129 | 0.001 | 0.006 | 0.003 | 0.001 | 0.000 | 0.000 |
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FEF25%–75% (L/sec) | ||||||||
Cor |
0.350 | 0.398 | 0.650 | 0.774 | 0.538 | 0.582 | 0.604 |
0.433 |
|
0.220 | 0.158 | 0.012 | 0.001 | 0.047 | 0.029 | 0.022 | 0.122 |
Cor, Spearman correlation; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec; FEF25%–75%, mean forced expiratory flow between the 25% and 75% of the FVC; N, Newton; ER, external rotation; IR, internal rotation.
Relationship between trunk isometric muscle strength and respiratory function tests of all athletes
Respiratory function test | Trunk isometric muscle strength | |||||
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Trunk extension (N) | Trunk flexion (N) | Left lateral flexion (N) | Right lateral flexion (N) | Left rotation (N) | Right rotation (N) | |
FVC (L) | ||||||
Cor |
0.334 | 0.400 | 0.405 | 0.576 |
0.576 |
0.603 |
|
0.243 | 0.156 | 0.151 | 0.031 | 0.031 | 0.022 |
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FEV1 (L) | ||||||
Cor |
0.431 | 0.354 | 0.493 | 0.607 |
0.634 |
0.640 |
|
0.124 | 0.214 | 0.073 | 0.021 | 0.015 | 0.014 |
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FEF25%–75% (L/sec) | ||||||
Cor |
0.455 | 0.068 | 0.538 |
0.569 |
0.556 |
0.455 |
|
0.102 | 0.817 | 0.047 | 0.034 | 0.039 | 0.102 |
Cor, Spearman correlation; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec; FEF25%–75%, mean forced expiratory flow between the 25% and 75% of the FVC; N, Newton; ER, external rotation; IR, internal rotation.
Relationship between lower extremity isometric muscle strength and respiratory function tests of all athletes
Respiratory function test | Lower extremity isometric muscle strength | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Left leg extension (N) | Rıght leg extension (N) | Left leg flexion (N) | Rıght leg flexion (N) | Left leg abduction (N) | Rıght leg abduction (N) | Left leg adduction (N) | Right leg adduction (N) | |
FVC (L) | ||||||||
Cor |
0.759 | 0.598 | 0.097 | 0.122 | 0.763 | 0.707 | 0.739 | 0.829 |
|
0.002 | 0.024 | 0.742 | 0.677 | 0.001 | 0.005 | 0.003 | 0.000 |
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FEV1 (L) | ||||||||
Cor |
0.774 | 0.702 | 0.170 | 0.183 | 0.832 | 0.770 | 0.768 | 0.867 |
|
0.001 | 0.005 | 0.562 | 0.532 | 0.000 | 0.001 | 0.001 | 0.000 |
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FEF25%–75% (L/sec) | ||||||||
Cor |
0.534 | 0.684 | 0.119 | 0.081 | 0.534 | 0.642 | 0.464 | 0.455 |
|
0.049 | 0.007 | 0.686 | 0.782 | 0.049 | 0.013 | 0.095 | 0.102 |
Cor, Spearman correlation; FVC, forced vital capacity; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec; FEF25%–75%, mean forced expiratory flow between the 25% and 75% of the FVC; N, Newton; ER, external rotation; IR, internal rotation.