EFFICACY OF ROWING, BACKWARD WHEELING AND ISOLATED SCAPULAR RETRACTOREXERCISE AS REMEDIAL STRENGTH ACTIVITIES FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS - APPLICATION OF ELECTROMYOGRAPHY

Shoulder dysfunction due to regular wheelchair use is a common problem among people with spinal cord injuries. As a remedial measure, streng thening of the scapular retractor muscles has been suggested. Electrom yographical analysis was utilized to examine scapular retraction muscl e use during rowing, backward wheeling and a standardized scapular ret raction exercise in seven people with spinal cord injuries and seven a ble bodied subjects. In addition, a pilot study using indwelling elect rodes was completed to validate the use and placement of surface elect rodes. Both rowing and the standardized scapular retraction exercise r ecruited higher levels of retractor involvement than backward wheeling . We suggest that rowing, because of its value as a cardiovascular exe rcise and high level of retractor recruitment, is an appropriate and e ffective means of remediating scapular retractor weakness.