Shoulder kinetics and ultrasonography changes after performing a high-intensity task in spinal cord injury subjects and healthy controls.
This is a prospective and comparative study between two groups.



The objective of this study was to compare the changes in shoulder joint forces and their moments, as well as any possible ultrasound changes, when subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) and healthy controls (CG) undertake a high-intensity manual wheelchair propulsion test.



This study was conducted in an inpatient SCI rehabilitation center.



A group of 22 subjects with SCI at level T2 or below who use a manual wheelchair (MWU), categorized as AIS grade A or B, were compared with a CG of 12 healthy subjects. Subjects in each group performed a high-intensity wheelchair propulsion test. The variables analyzed were shoulder joint forces and the moments at the beginning and at the end of the test. Ultrasound variables before and after the propulsion test were also analyzed. Correlations were also drawn between the ultrasonography and demographic variables.



In both groups, peak shoulder forces and moments increased after the test in almost all directions. No differences in the ultrasound parameters were found. A greater long-axis biceps tendon thickness (LBTT) was associated with more shoulder pain according to WUSPI or VAS (r=0.428, P<0.05 and r=0.452, P<0.05, respectively).



Shoulder joint forces and moments increase after an intense propulsion task. In subjects with SCI, these increases center on forces with less chance of producing subacromial damage. No changes are produced in ultrasonography variables, whereas a poorer clinical and functional evaluation of the shoulder of the MWUs appears to be related to a thicker long-axis biceps tendon.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Biomechanics and Technical Aids Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain.
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A
Gil-Agudo
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Biomechanics and Technical Aids Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain.
M S
MS
Mozos
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Biomechanics and Technical Aids Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain.
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B
Crespo-Ruiz
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Biomechanics and Technical Aids Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain.
A J
AJ
del-Ama
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Biomechanics and Technical Aids Unit, National Hospital for Paraplegics, SESCAM, Toledo, Spain.
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E
Pérez-Rizo
Health Sciences Institute of Castilla-La Mancha, Toledo, Spain.
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A
Segura-Fragoso
Faculty of Sport Science, Laboratory of Performance and Sports Rehabilitation, University of Castilla-La Mancha Toledo, Spain.
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F
Jiménez-Díaz
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014463:Ultrasonography; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D014910:Wheelchairs