title: Assessment of the ability of wheelchair subjects with spinal cord injury to perform a specific protocol of shoulder training: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  a regular program of exercises in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) can contribute to reduce the risk of upper extremities injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  in this prospective laboratory study we tested the hypothesis that a training machine developed for able-body users is suitable for a shoulder training protocol in 11 paraplegic subjects with SCI. Overall subjects were assessed with the SCIM III, CS, DASH and standard shoulder examination. We set a protocol of shoulder exercises performed with a training machine. Overall subjects were able to perform the protocol but 2 did not complete the exercises n° 6 and 7. The position of the wheelchair during each exercise was recorded. Wheelchair position/loading level were significantly correlated with the protocol n° 2, 3 and 5 as well as BMI/loading level for the exercises n° 5 and 9 and age/loading level for the exercise n° 7. Clinical scores were neither correlated with loading nor with anthropometric data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FROM THE ANALYSIS OF DATA COLLECTED IN THIS STUDY ARISED THAT: 1) the training machine needs some adjustments for paraplegic subjects, 2) the training protocol was appropriate except for the exercises needing a torso-rotation and 3) the template for wheelchair position may be a valid guide for an optimal paraplegic shoulder training.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, AUSL della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy ; Biomechanics laboratory "Marco Simoncelli", D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Merolla
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics laboratory "Marco Simoncelli", D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dellabiancia
authors.affiliation: Service of Functional Recovery and Rehabilitation, AUSL della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Vittoria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Filippi
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics laboratory "Marco Simoncelli", D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy ; ShoulderTeam Rehabilitative Office, Forlì, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Santis
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics laboratory "Marco Simoncelli", D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alpi
authors.affiliation: Biomechanics laboratory "Marco Simoncelli", D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magrini
authors.affiliation: Unit of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, D. Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, AUSL della Romagna Ambito Territoriale di Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porcellini
keywords: exercise; shoulder; spinal cord injury; training; wheelchair