PARALYMPICS & TECHNOLOGY
Today , paraplegicbasketbalplayersarereachingnewheights , breakingal-time records , andprovingtheirphysicalfinesethankstomonumentaladvancementsin technology . SincetheestablishmentoftheParalympicMovementinthe1960 ’ s , the wheelchairusedbyparaplegicathletesonthebasketbalcourthasenduredmanysignificantchanges .
Unlikerequirementsthatneedtobemetbyequipmentforswimmingandrunning , thewheelchairdesignforparaplegicbasketbalplayersishinderedbynolimitationsapartfrom thosethatregulatesize .
Overtheyears , wheelchairmanufacturershavesoughttoprogresanathlete ’ s turningcircleandmoreover , enhancethedesigntoalowathlete ’ stomakesharpturns easily . Fortunately , thebirthofcamberedwheelshavemadegracefulmovementaposibility . Additionaly , thewheelchairdesignhasseentheintroductionofcarbonfibre spokestoenhancedurability , andrearcastorwheelstopreventathletesfrom faling backwards .
Itisexpectedthatthefuturewilseelighter , faster , andmoredurablewheelchairs althoughchairsmanufacturedtodayweighonlyastartling19pounds . Itisanticipated thatcarbonfibretechnologywilfurtheraltertheworldofparaplegicbasketbalplayers andchangetheglobalperceptionoftheparaplegiccommunity .
11 HoopsMagazine2013