P.E. Ferrara1*, G. Ferriero2, V. Palmieri3, S. Codazza1, D.M. Gatto4, P. Zordan4, G. Stefinlongo4, A. De Sire5 and G. Ronconi1

Author information

1Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome Italy;
2Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy;
3UOC Medicina dello Sport e Rieducazione Funzionale, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome Italy;
4Department of Geriatrics, Neurosciences and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy;
5Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Graecia” Catanzaro, Italy

Abstract

The growing popularity of paralympic sports and the improvement of infrastructure accessibility has led to an increase of disabled people regularly practicing sports. However, besides the beneficial effects of
physical activity, these athletes have a higher risk of upper limb musculoskeletal overuse disorders. Despite this, the literature is still inconclusive about shoulder overuse injury etiology and prevention strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of a training protocol to prevent shoulder overuse syndrome in wheelchair rugby (WR) athletes. A total of 12 athletes, affected by tetraplegia (50%), paraplegia (26%), paraparesis due to cerebral palsy (8%), transfemoral amputation (8%), and osteogenesis imperfecta (8%) were evaluated at baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks (T1) of a self-administrated exercise program. In addition, each subject underwent a dynamometric test of the biceps brachii, deltoid and pectoralis muscles. A significant increase of dynamometric values was evident at T1 in all tested muscles.

Keywords:

rehabilitation, wheelchair rugby, shoulder overuse

Publication type

Journal Article

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