A l’initiative du Groupement d’Isocinétisme Belge et Luxembourgeois

 

6ème Journée Belge d’ISOCINETISME

Vendredi 14 et samedi 15 mars 2008

 

 

INFLUENCE OF POST-TRAUMATIC TIME ON MUSCULAR BALANCE OF THE SHOULDER IN WHEELCHAIR ATHETES – A PRELIMINARY STUDY

 

V. GREMEAUX1, M. DENIER2, C. FATTAL 3, P. CODINE 4 , P.L. BERNARD 2

 

1   Pôle Rééducation-Réadaptation, Inserm U 887, CHU Dijon.

2   Laboratoire « Efficience et Déficience Motrices », EA 2991, UFR STAPS, Montpellier.

3   Centre Mutualiste PROPARA, Montpellier

4   Clinique La Pinède, 66240 Saint Estève.

 

Email : vincent.gremeaux@chu-dijon.fr

 

Introduction:

the scapulo-humeral joint of wheelchair athletes undergoes considerable musclejoint stress [1, 4, 6]. Several studies have reported muscular adaptations that occur with physical activities [2, 3] in these patients.

 

Objective:

to determine the influence of post-traumatic time on rotator muscle of the shoulder strength of paraplegic athletes.

 

Material and methods:

Nine paraplegic athletes, free from shoulder pain, without history of surgery, practicing wheelchair tennis and basketball were recruited. Group 1 was composed of 4 “Recent Paraplegic Athletes” (RPA) (males, post-traumatic time: 12 months - 4 years, neurological level between T3-T12). Group 2 was composed of 5 “Ancient Paraplegic Athletes” (APA) (3 males and 2 females, post-traumatic time > 8 years; neurological level between T4- T10). Subjects were evaluated on an isokinetic dynamometer in the Davies modified position [5] on a concentric mode, at 60, 120 and 180°.s-1. Analysed data were peak torque (PT), mean power (MP) and the Medial/Lateral rotator ratios calculated for PT and MP.

 

Results:

We found no between groups differences for PT and MP at the three speeds on both dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) side.

 

For the PT ratios, significant differences were found among groups on D side at 60°s-1 (p<0.05) and 120°s-1 (p<0.02) (RPA>APA). We also found significant differences in each group between D and ND side but only for RPA at 120°s-1 (p<0.02) and 180°.s-1 (p<0.02).

 

For the MP ratios, we observed significant differences among groups on D and ND side at 60°.s-1 (p<0.05) (RPA>APA). We also found significant differences in each group between D and ND side only for the RPA at 60°s-1 (p<0.05).

 

Discussion:

based on this comparison of small groups of subjects, we could assume that sport practice may contribute to normalise mean ratios in wheelchair paraplegic. More serious analysis with larger groups should improve and knowledge of wheelchair users scapular muscular adaptations and its role in shoulder diseases.

 

REFERENCES

1.    Bayley JV, Cochran TP, Sledge CB. The weight bearing shoulder: the impingement syndrome in paraplegics. J Bone Joint Surg 1987; 69 (5): 676-678.

2.    Bernard PL, Codine P. Isokinetic shoulder of paraplegics: observation of global and specific muscle ratio. Int J Rehabil Res 1997; 20: 91-98.

3.    Bernard PL, Codine P, Minier J. Isokinetic shoulder rotator muscles in wheelchair athletes. Spinal Cord 2004; 42 (4) : 222-229.

4.    Burnham RS, May L, Nelson E, Steadward R, Reid DC. Shoulder pain in wheelchair athletes: the role of muscle imbalance. Am J Sports Med 1993; 21 (2): 238-242.

5.    Davies GJ. A compendium of isokinetics in clinical usage. Sand S publishers, 4th ed, Wisconsin (1992).

6.    Ferrara M, Davis R. Injuries to elite wheelchair athletes. Paraplegia 1990; 28: 335-341. -22 -

 

Figure 1.a and 1.b : Means and Sds of medial/lateral rotator muscle ratios of peak torque for the two groups of subjects (1.a) at the three test speeds (60, 120, 180°.s-1) and for the the two side (1.b). (D : dominant side ND: non-dominant side).

 

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

D

60

ND D

120

ND D

180

ND

Recent

Ancient

NS
NS
NS

p<0.05
p<0.02
NS

 

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

1.80

2.00

60
120
180

Recent
D

Recent
ND

Ancient
D

Ancient
ND

NS

NS

NS

p<0.02
p<0.02
NS

 

 

 

 

Figure 2.a and 2.b : Means and Sds of medial/lateral rotator muscles ratios of mean power for the two groups of subjects (2.a) at the three test speeds (60, 120, 180°.s-1) and for the the two side (2.b). (D : dominant side ND: non-dominant side).

 

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

60 120 180

Recent D

Recent ND

Ancient D

Ancient ND

p<0.05

NS

NS

NS

NS

NS

 

 

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

D

60

ND D

120

ND D

180

ND

Recent

Ancient

p<0.05

p<0.05

 

NS

NS

NS

NS