Echographic and kinetic changes in the shoulder joint after manual wheelchair propulsion under two different workload settings

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2014 · DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2014.00077 · Published: December 23, 2014

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Biomechanics

Simple Explanation

Manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury often experience shoulder pain due to repetitive upper extremity use for mobility and daily activities. This study investigates acute changes in shoulder soft tissues after manual wheelchair propulsion under different workload settings using ultrasound. The research aims to link shoulder joint kinetics with ultrasound metrics to better understand shoulder pathologies in wheelchair users.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

14 manual wheelchair users with SCI

Evidence Level

Not specified

Key Findings

1
Shoulder joint forces were greater in the high-intensity propulsion task compared to the low-intensity task.
2
No significant differences were found in ultrasound-related parameters before and after each propulsion task.
3
Increases in medial peak shoulder force were correlated with increases in long-axis biceps tendon thickness and decreases in subacromial space in the high-intensity protocol.

Research Summary

This study investigated the acute effects of high- and low-intensity wheelchair propulsion on shoulder joint kinetics and ultrasound parameters in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. The findings indicate that shoulder joint forces are significantly greater during high-intensity propulsion, but no significant changes were observed in ultrasound parameters immediately after either propulsion task. Correlations were found between increased medial shoulder forces and changes in biceps tendon thickness and subacromial space during high-intensity propulsion, suggesting a potential link between shoulder kinetics and structural changes.

Practical Implications

Wheelchair Setup Modification

Modifying wheelchair setup to reduce overall force required for propulsion, rather than limiting activity.

Further Clinical Research

More research is needed to collect clinical information and correlate data on shoulder pain with ultrasound images and kinetic information.

Technique adjustment

Training the wheelchair user to propel with different technique.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size
2
Limited number of subjects with and without shoulder pain, preventing comparative analysis.
3
Pain may confound the relationship between propulsion and ultrasound variables.

Your Feedback

Was this summary helpful?

Back to Spinal Cord Injury