Glenohumeral contact forces and muscle forces evaluated in wheelchair-related activities of daily living in able-bodied subjects versus subjects with paraplegia and tetraplegia.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the differences in glenohumeral contact forces and shoulder muscle forces between able-bodied subjects and subjects with paraplegia and tetraplegia during wheelchair-related activities of daily living (ADLs).


METHODS
Kinematics and external forces were measured during wheelchair ADLs (level propulsion, weight-relief lifting, reaching) and processed by using an inverse dynamics 3-dimensional biomechanical model.


METHODS
Biomechanics laboratory.


METHODS
Five able-bodied subjects, 8 subjects with paraplegia, and 4 subjects with tetraplegia (N = 17).


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Glenohumeral contact forces and shoulder muscle forces.


RESULTS
Peak contact forces were significantly higher for weight-relief lifting compared with reaching and level propulsion (P < .001). High relative muscle force of the rotator cuff was seen, apparently needed to stabilize the joint. For weight-relief lifting, total relative muscle force was significantly higher for the tetraplegia group than for the able-bodied group (P = .022).


CONCLUSIONS
Glenohumeral contact forces were significantly higher for weight-relief lifting and highest over the 3 tasks for the tetraplegia group. Without taking paralysis into account, more muscle force was estimated for the subjects with tetraplegia during weight-relief lifting.
Institute of Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Stefan
S
van Drongelen
Lucas H
LH
van der Woude
Thomas W
TW
Janssen
Edmond L
EL
Angenot
Edward K
EK
Chadwick
Dirkjan H
DH
Veeger
D000054:Acceleration; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D014910:Wheelchairs