The longitudinal relationship between shoulder pain and altered wheelchair propulsion biomechanics of manual wheelchair users

The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal association between within-subject changes in shoulder pain and alterations in wheelchair propulsion biomechanics in manual wheelchair users. Eighteen (age 33 ± 11 years) manual wheelchair users propelled their own daily living wheelchair at 1.11 m.s−1 for three minutes on a dual-roller ergometer during two laboratory visits (T1 and T2) between 4 and 6 months apart. Shoulder pain was assessed using the Performance Corrected Wheelchair User’s Shoulder Pain Index (PC-WUSPI). Between visits mean PC-WUSPI scores increased by 5.4 points and varied from − 13.5 to + 20.9 points. Of the eighteen participants, nine (50%) experienced increased shoulder pain, seven (39%) no change in pain, and two (11%) decreased pain. Increasing shoulder pain severity correlated with increased contact angle (r = 0.59, P = 0.010), thorax range of motion (r = 0.60, P = 0.009) and kinetic and kinematic variability. Additionally, increasing shoulder pain was associated with reductions in peak torque (r = -0.56, P = 0.016), peak glenohumeral abduction (r = -0.69, P = 0.002), peak scapular downward rotation (r = -0.68, P = 0.002), and range of motion in glenohumeral flexion/extension and scapular angles. Group comparisons revealed that these biomechanical alterations were exhibited by individuals who experienced increased shoulder pain, whereas, propulsion biomechanics of those with no change/decreased pain remained unaltered. These findings indicate that wheelchair users exhibit a protective short-term wheelchair propulsion biomechanical response to increases in shoulder pain which may temporarily help maintain functional independence.