title: Ultrasonographic Measures of the Acromiohumeral Distance and Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness in Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury.
abstract: (1) To evaluate the reliability of ultrasonographic measures of the acromiohumeral distance (AHD) in shoulder positions linked to wheelchair propulsion in manual wheelchair users (MWUs) with spinal cord injury (SCI) and able-bodied individuals; (2) to compare ultrasonographic measures of AHD, supraspinatus tendon thickness, and occupation ratio between MWUs with SCI with and without shoulder pain (rotator cuff [RC] tendinopathy); and (3) to compare these ultrasonographic measures between MWUs with SCI and able-bodied individuals.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  Rehabilitation centers.
  
  
  
  Three groups of participants (N=95; aged between 18 and 60y) were recruited within a convenience sample: objective 1: 16 MWUs with SCI (mean age, 43±9y; height, 172±13 cm, weight, 84±10 kg) and 16 able-bodied individuals (mean age, 28±9y; height, 176±11 cm, weight, 72±12 kg); objectives 2 and 3: 37 MWUs with SCI (17 with [mean age, 47±11y; height, 172±14 cm, weight, 68±11 kg] and 20 without [mean age, 45±10y; height, 172±15 cm, weight, 84±30 kg] RC tendinopathy) and 26 able-bodied individuals (mean age, 31±5y; height, 175±12 cm; weight, 89±14 kg).
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  AHD, supraspinatus tendon thickness, and occupation ratio of the supraspinatus tendon measured using ultrasound imaging systems.
  
  
  
  (1) Excellent intra- and interrater reliability of AHD was obtained in each arm position (intraclass correlation coefficient>.85); (2) MWUs without shoulder pain have thicker tendon than do MWUs with RC tendinopathy; and (3) a significant Group × Position interaction was found for AHD measures when comparing MWUs with SCI with able-bodied individuals (greater AHD at the end of the push phase for MWUs with SCI). A thicker tendon and a higher occupation ratio were also found in MWUs with SCI than in able-bodied individuals.
  
  
  
  Ultrasonography is a reliable technology to evaluate AHD in MWUs in shoulder positions linked to wheelchair propulsion. Supraspinatus tendon thickness and occupation ratio of AHD adequately discriminate between MWUs with SCI and able-bodied individuals. This shows that these ultrasonographic measures can be used in future studies of populations with SCI to better understand the changes at the shoulder joint in MWUs.
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec Rehabilitation Institute, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Amélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fournier Belley
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal, Gingras-Lindsay Rehabilitation Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Dany H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec Rehabilitation Institute, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Routhier
authors.affiliation: Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation and Social Integration, Quebec Rehabilitation Institute, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Electronic address: jean-sebastien.roy@rea.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Jean-Sébastien
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Roy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000592:standards; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020069:Shoulder Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Pain; Rehabilitation; Rotator cuff; Shoulder; Spinal cord injuries; Ultrasonography; Wheelchairs