A comparison of isokinetic rotator cuff performance in wheelchair basketball athletes vs. non-athletes with spinal cord injury

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Objectives This study aimed to compare the isokinetic peak torque and, secondarily, other parameters of the rotator cuff in the shoulders of paraplegic wheelchair basketball athletes and non-athletes controls. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods Thirty-six complete spinal cord injured individuals aged between 18 and 45 years performed an isokinetic evaluation of peak torque, power, and work exerted by the rotator cuff muscle group, in a Biodex System. All Concentric isokinetic tests were performed in the seated position with the shoulder at a 45° abduction from the scapular plane and flexed at 30° to the frontal plane. Subjects completed five repetitions at 60°/s and 180°/s, and ten repetitions at 300°/s, bilaterally, with an interval of one minute between each series. Statistical analysis (t-test, P < 0.05) compared athletes and non-athletes, dominant and non-dominant upper limbs according to all isokinetic parameters and angular velocities. Results Peak torque/weight, work, and muscle power of wheelchair basketball athletes were significantly greater than those of the control group (P < 0.05), but there were no statistical differences between dominant and non-dominant upper limb. Internal rotators were stronger than the external rotators both for athletes and for non-athletes. There is a positive correlation between peak torque and time since injury. Conclusions Wheelchair basketball athletes showed greater peak torque and other muscle performance parameters, which suggest that wheelchair basketball influences the shoulder musculature of those with traumatic spinal cord injury.