Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 2022 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084708 · Published: April 13, 2022
This study evaluates the muscle strength of 15 upper extremity muscles among patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) and compares the relative weakness of individual muscles to a control group. The goal is to understand how SCI affects upper body muscle strength to improve rehabilitation strategies. The study found that most upper extremity muscles were weaker in SCI patients compared to the control group. Also, the ranking of muscle strength differed between the two groups, suggesting that SCI affects different muscles in different ways. This information can help in designing targeted rehabilitation programs for SCI patients. By knowing which muscles are weaker, therapists can focus on strengthening those specific muscles, preventing overuse injuries from excessive training.
Rehabilitation programs can be tailored to focus on strengthening specific weakened muscles, leading to more effective recovery.
Understanding muscle weakness patterns can help prevent overuse injuries during rehabilitation and daily activities.
Selective strengthening can improve the functional ability of the upper extremities, enhancing independence in daily tasks.