THE RELATIONSHIP OF STRENGTH AND MUSCLE BALANCE TO SHOULDER PAIN AND IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME IN ELITE QUADRIPLEGIC WHEELCHAIR RUGBY PLAYERS

Wheelchair athletes are susceptible to injuries related to overuse of the shoulder, in particular shoulder impingement syndrome, The present study examined the relationship of shoulder pain to demographic detai ls, isokinetic strength and muscle balance in 8 elite quadriplegic rug by players. Demographic data were collected using personal interviews acid each subject was clinically examined for signs of impingement syn drome by a physician, In addition each subject underwent bilateral iso kinetic strength testing of the shoulder at 60 and 180 deg/s for abduc tion/adduction and internal/external rotation, A series of step-wise m ultiple discriminant analysis successfully predicted clinical symptoms from demographic, muscular strength and balance data. In particular, there was a significant deficit in adductor strength and this was rela ted to shoulder pain and wasting of the scapular muscles. This strengt h deficit may be due to the high level of spinal lesions in the quadri plegic population, The level of spinal lesion may contribute to the ae tiology of shoulder pathology in quadriplegia, and differentiate it fr om that observed in able-bodied athletes who exhibit weak abductors.