Shoulder Tendon Adaptations Following a Graded Exercise Test to Exhaustion in Highly Trained Wheelchair Rugby Athletes With Different Impairments

This study investigated how shoulder tendons in wheelchair rugby athletes adapt to exercise. They looked at changes in the biceps and supraspinatus tendons before and after a graded exercise test to exhaustion. The researchers used ultrasound to measure tendon thickness and structure. They also considered the athlete's impairment (spinal cord injury or other) and how much space the tendon occupies in the shoulder joint. The study found that the biceps tendon showed acute changes after exercise, and chronic adaptations in the supraspinatus tendon were related to the athlete's impairment.

• 1
  The echogenicity of the biceps tendon significantly reduced post-exercise, suggesting fluid inflow into the tendon.
• 2
  Athletes with spinal cord injury had thicker supraspinatus tendons compared to those with other impairments.
• 3
  A greater occupation ratio (tendon thickness relative to the acromio-humeral distance) was associated with signs of tendinopathy.