Assessment of shoulder rotation strength, muscle co-activation and shoulder pain in tetraplegic wheelchair athletes – A methodological study

This study aimed to create a good way to measure shoulder strength in wheelchair athletes with tetraplegia. It also looked at how well a simpler strength test (HHD) compares to a more complex one (ID). The study also examined how shoulder muscles activate during strength tests and if there's a connection between shoulder strength and pain in these athletes. The research found a reliable method for measuring shoulder strength. The simpler strength test was comparable to the more complex one, but with some differences in muscle activity. Strength wasn't clearly linked to shoulder pain.

• 1
  A standardized feasible protocol for tetraplegic wheelchair athletes for measuring maximum shoulder rotation strength was established.
• 2
  Isometric HHD is comparable with ID on normalized peak torques and muscle activity, but with larger co-activation.
• 3
  Strength was not clearly associated with shoulder pain, except for significantly weak negative associations between ID and pain during ER for left and right arms.