Para-archers have poorer balance than non-disabled archers, but no measurable difference in trunk endurance

2 studies · 20 archers measured

Each circle is a study: its position gives the year, its row whether it is for, against or context, its size how many participants it measured. Light circles are studies on other populations or without archers.

There is only one direct comparison: ten para-archers from the Turkish federation for physically disabled sports and ten non-disabled archers from the archery federation, all with at least a year in the sport and a World Archery score between 550 and 720. In seated reach tests, which measure how far you can lean without losing your position, the para-archers reach much less far: 27 centimetres against 39 forwards with one arm, 22 against 42 with both arms, 13 against 20 to the side. Trunk muscle endurance, on the other hand, does not separate significantly, and the same goes for body perception; arm muscle strength is at the top of the scale in both groups. The trunk is not identical, though: in the static extension hold the para-archers last 58 seconds against 86, a difference that with ten people per group does not reach significance. The para-archers' arms are bigger, 34.5 centimetres in circumference against 30.5, and internal rotation of the right shoulder is more limited, 52 degrees against 78. On quality of life the difference lies in the physical part of the questionnaire, with physical functioning at 29.5 against 95, while energy, mood, social life and pain do not separate. The difference in seated balance is largely what you would expect from the disability itself; the useful information is that, with such a small sample and different disabilities grouped together, the trunk shows no measurable deficit.

Also phrased as: "balance in para-archers"; "trunk and wheelchair archery"; "para-archery and trunk stability"; "archers with a physical disability"; "quality of life of para-archers"

In practice

It is taken for granted that those who shoot from a wheelchair or with a physical disability have less trunk control, and that they therefore have to make up for everything with their arms and their equipment.

Evidence

2021
For Archers Published later

10 para-archers and 10 non-disabled Turkish archers, aged 18 to 55, World Archery score 577.4 ± 30.7 against 629.5 ± 36.9 (not significant): seated forward reach 27.10 ± 12.05 against 39.30 ± 6.92 cm (p = 0.012), with both arms 22.40 ± 13.14 against 42.00 ± 10.86 (p = 0.002), right lateral 13.30 ± 4.05 against 20.70 ± 5.12 (p = 0.002), left 13.60 ± 4.19 against 19.90 ± 4.20 (p = 0.004).

Trunk stabilization, body balance, body perception, and quality of life in professional physically disabled and able-bodied archers · Ibrahim Arkin, Miray Budak
2021
For Archers Published later

In the same study trunk endurance does not separate: dynamic flexion 29.5 ± 11.2 against 33.3 ± 13.8 repetitions (p = 0.509), dynamic extension 32.2 ± 19.2 against 44.2 ± 21.7 (p = 0.207), static extension hold 57.9 ± 30.3 against 86.4 ± 51.4 seconds (p = 0.149). Body perception 155.2 ± 22.6 against 162.9 ± 28.3 (p = 0.510); manual muscle strength of the arm at 5 out of 5 in both groups.

Trunk stabilization, body balance, body perception, and quality of life in professional physically disabled and able-bodied archers · Ibrahim Arkin, Miray Budak
2021
Context Archers Published later

Arm circumference 34.50 ± 4.33 against 30.65 ± 2.61 cm on the right (p = 0.027) and 34.60 ± 4.76 against 30.50 ± 2.56 on the left (p = 0.028); internal rotation of the right shoulder 52.0 ± 22.2 against 78.5 ± 20.3 degrees (p = 0.007). On the SF-36 questionnaire physical functioning is 29.5 ± 16.2 against 95.0 ± 4.7 and role limitations due to physical health 75.0 against 95.0; energy, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain and general health do not differ.

Trunk stabilization, body balance, body perception, and quality of life in professional physically disabled and able-bodied archers · Ibrahim Arkin, Miray Budak
2024
Context Review Published later

A scoping review of adaptive shooting disciplines takes up the 2021 comparison with the same conclusions: lower balance and quality of life in para-archers, no differences in trunk stability or body perception. It reports arm circumference as larger only on the left, whereas in the original study's table the difference is significant on both sides.

Adaptive Shooting Disciplines: A Scoping Review of the Literature with Bibliometric Analysis · Luca Puce, Carlo Biz, Halil Ibrahim Ceylan, Nicola Luigi Bragazzi, Matteo Formica, Khaled Trabelsi, et al.

Status history

2021 Reported The first and only direct comparison arrives: ten para-archers and ten non-disabled Turkish national-level archers. In seated reach tests the para-archers reach much less far, from 13 against 20 centimetres to the side to 22 against 42 with both arms, while trunk muscle endurance and body perception do not separate significantly. The para-archers' arms are bigger and quality of life is lower only in its physical part. Ten people per group, different disabilities together: reported.
2024 Reported The 2021 comparison enters a scoping review of adaptive shooting disciplines, which summarises it with the same conclusions: lower balance in para-archers, no differences in trunk or body perception. No new data arrive and no second comparison with a non-disabled group, so the status stays reported and the claim still rests on ten people per group.

Research lines

Cite

APA

Campagna, M. (2026). Para-archers have poorer balance than non-disabled archers, but no measurable difference in trunk endurance (Version 1). In Evidence Registry. Retrieved 16 October 2026, from https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/health/para-archers-balance-trunk

BibTeX

@misc{campagna2026_paraarcieriequilibrio,
  author = {Campagna, Matteo},
  title = {Para-archers have poorer balance than non-disabled archers, but no measurable difference in trunk endurance},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Evidence Registry, matteocampagna.com},
  url = {https://matteocampagna.com/en/registry/health/para-archers-balance-trunk},
  note = {Version 1; accessed 2026-10-16}
}

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